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John Hill Obituary

JOHN EVANS HILL John Evans Hill, 69, resident of Santa Fe, New Mexico passed away on Monday, January 12, 2015 at Christus St. Vincent Hospital after suffering from heart failure. He is preceded in death by his parents, Marian J. Whitley and the father who raised him, Edward F. Whitley, as well as his biological father, John T. Hill, a World War II veteran who was killed in action before John was born. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Luella A. Hill, daughter Stephanie A. Hill, brother Richard F. Whitley, and grandchildren Danielle and Carl "Anthony" Nardei. John was an intelligence analyst for the U.S. Government, and a renowned wargame designer who created Squad Leader and Johnny Reb with recent authorship of two books in a series, Across a Deadly Field, with a third one scheduled for publishing in May of 2015. In his earlier years, he owned and operated a railroad hobby shop known as The Scale Model Shop in Lafayette, Indiana, followed by a career in publishing. In lieu of flowers, those who knew John may make an online memorial contribution in his name to the American Heart Association by visiting his profile page http://honor.americanheart.org/goto/John_Evans_Hill A Celebration of Life was held at Dinner for Two in Santa Fe, NM on Sunday, January 18, 2015.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Santa Fe New Mexican from Jan. 21 to Jan. 22, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
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4 Entries

Rodney Schmisseur

January 15, 2020

I had so much fun as a young adult playing Kasserine Pass, Overlord, (yes) Verdun, and the myriad miniature battles using the prototype Squad Leader charts and rules. Thanks, John, for everything!

Rodney Schmisseur

August 8, 2015

John suffered me as a precocious 12-year old wargamer-to-be at his hobby shop, The Scale, in Lafayette Square. We lived about a mile south of the store and would walk down, dash across Teal Road (always, successfully!), and spend our allowance. I NEVER brought an ice cream cone into the store! (there was a Baskin Robbins I think two doors down and he loathed the casual hobby store shoppers who would eat their ice cream cones walking thru the store, I'm sure making a mess he would have to mop up later. He worked with the Purdue Wargame Club which met on Sunday afternoons and many of John's games were play tested there - including miniature versions of what became the Squad Leader rules. A large section of the early games in my game collection were purchased from John, including all the monsters, Atlantic Wall, Typhoon, Drang Nach Osten, etc. Fortunately by the time he moved the store down the road across from the old skating rink I could drive.
John had many talents - a gift for writing in his unique style - and an engaging presentation style. Years later, at GenCon, I saw John again, as part of a packed audience where he narrated the events surrounding Black Hawk Down to a rapt audience.
Thank you John, for so much fun, for Kasserine Pass, for Overload, for Bar Lev, for rubberized maps, for the original Squad Leader (before binders of rules were needed), for Johnny Reb, and for the fun of learning to play, and learn history from your games and your wit. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

January 24, 2015

My heartfelt sympathies to the Hill family during this difficult time. May the promise found in God's Word at 1 Thessalonians 4:14 bring you comfort.
Bob

American Heart Association

January 22, 2015

May your memories of the wonderful times you shared with your loved one comfort you and your family, today and always.

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