John Head

John Head drew his final, peaceful breath on July 1, 2018. Born in Oklahoma in 1930, his childhood reflected the harsh times of the country and era. As a young man, John worked with his father running pack trains in the Sierras and Yosemite. On one of his long rides into the valley near Selma he met Minnie Dean Eslick, whom he soon married.

War had broken out in North Korea and, like many in his generation, he became a soldier. Soon promoted to Sergeant First Class, he and his men fought in some of the most ferocious battles of the war, one of which he was awarded the Purple Heart. The war changed him forever and bonded him with many of his fellow soldiers for the rest of his life. One recently told us that dad was “the best combat soldier” he’d ever known, and he spoke at length of the bond they shared.

Soon after he came home from the war, John and Minnie moved to Montana, built a home on the Bitterroot River and raised three children: Donda Gail (Schwegel), John Dean and Vickie Lynn (Bronson). The mountains of Montana gave him the life he wanted. He was a renowned hunter and outdoors man, and a hardworking logger. He and Minnie were together for over 53 years, until the winter of 2004 took her from us. He spent the last years of his life at their home near Eureka, hunting and fishing with his family till his body would no longer let him.

He was cherished and cared for by his loving family, and he will be missed forever. A service for John and Minnie will be held at the Tobacco Valley cemetery on Aug. 18, 2018, at 11 a.m. Join us.