Jack W. Bledsoe
1927 – 2017
On November 21, 2017 Jack Bledsoe passed away at home after a 3 year struggle with cancer, as his loving wife held his hands.
Born June 2, 1927 in Wichita, Kansas, he was the second son of Roy and Faye Bledsoe. The family moved to Springfield, Missouri, where Jack spent his childhood.
Jack had an insatiable zest for life even in childhood, and his boyish adventures sometimes got the better of him. At age 6 Jack fell and broke his collar bone. Another time he fell and broke his wrist swinging from the rope on a tree in their yard, but no force of nature ever kept him down for long.
As a teenager he worked in the local theatre as an usher on weekends. Summers were spent on the golf course as a caddy, from which budded his lifelong interest in golf.
The family moved to Twin Falls, Idaho in the middle of Jacks senior year in high school. Immediately following graduation he joined the U.S. Army and served in Okinawa, Japan. After receiving an honorable discharge, he began his college education while planning to be a teacher.
On his first summer break from college, he came to Boise where his parents were now living. This is when he met Colleen Carter and they enjoyed a platonic relationship before he returned to college.
Jack and Colleen did not have their first date until he came home for his Christmas break from college. It didn't take him long to know that she was the young woman of his dreams, and they were married May 28, 1950. Their only child, a daughter, Cathy Ann, was born April 11, 1951.
Jacks interest changed from teaching to finance. He first worked at Pacific Finance on Main St., downtown Boise for 10 years. Then he opened Carson City Finance in Nevada for two prominent investors. Under Jacks stewardship, in just three years CCF was so profitable, the business was sold to a major finance company. Jack, Colleen and Cathy returned to their Boise home where Jack began his banking career at Bank of Idaho, which became First Interstate Bank, and then Wells Fargo. After 35 years at the bank, Jack retired.
Jack enjoyed the time and energy spent in community service, as a member of the Idaho Elks Lodge, Kiwanis, Lions and CC Rotary. He always loved music, and sang baritone in the nationally known Elk's Gleemen.
He led a very full, happy and rewarding life. He was an avid reader, enjoyed all sports, especially watching football games, playing tennis and golf. Jack felt it had been a privilege to have played Pebble Beach Course in California, along with Spyglass and Torrey Pines. In later years always watching the Pebble Beach Open on TV, Jack would remember some of the holes he had played and which irons he used to avoid the ball going into the ocean.
Throughout the years Jack and Colleen enjoyed many travels and cruises, from Austria to Germany to Fiji, the Scandinavian countries and beyond, as well as time with their granddaughter each year in their motorhome at the Oregon Coast.
Jack never met a stranger; he was easy to talk to and could deliver news, good or bad, in such a way that you found yourself smiling. He never took himself too seriously and lived a life full of joy, spreading his warmth to all he met. His laughter was contagious. Jack was a man of deep integrity and known for his honesty.
He is survived by his loving wife, Colleen, of 67 years, his daughter and son-in-law Cathy and Rudy Weisshaupt, granddaughter Summer, great-granddaughter Bree, and their special yellow lab. The footprint Jack has left in the hearts and minds of his family and friends is deep, strong, and will not be forgotten. It is an honor to have known and loved such a man.
There will be a service commemorating Jack's life Saturday Dec. 2, 2017, 1:00 p.m. Alden-Waggoner Funeral Home 5400 W. Fairview Ave., Boise. Interment will be at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery at a later date.