John L. Fry

1921 - 2015

John L. "Jack" Fry
1921 - 2015
Jack passed away November 12, 2015 at home near Horseshoe Bend. He was born July 23, 1921 at his grandmother's homestead on Jackass Creek near Horseshoe Bend, Idaho. He gained an appreciation for hard work as a young boy and continued into adulthood helping others in need. He attended grade school at the Enterprise School in Jerusalem Valley. He attended, and graduated from Boise High School. While at Boise High School he met, and won the heart of, Ruth Crumly. They married on February 6, 1943.
Jack attended the University of Idaho, majoring in Civil Engineering. His education was interrupted by WWII and he had to leave his young pregnant wife to serve in the US Army during the Battle of the Bulge and post war occupation. He achieved the rank of Captain in the 1st Battalion HQ Company 274th Infantry Regiment and was a Motor Transport Officer. He earned a Bronze Star for Valor.
Upon returning from the war, he continued his education at the University of Idaho, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. He and Ruth moved back to Horseshoe Bend and joined his brother and father in a cattle ranching venture that endures to this day. As a rancher, his interest in stewardship of the land and forests led to service as Director, and Chairman of the Squaw Creek Soil Conservation District and he was appointed the Executive Secretary of Idaho Soil Conservation Commission. Dad was a Past Master of the Placerville Lodge #3. He shunned the limelight for his charitable and humanitarian activities, and preferred others to receive the recognition. Dad loved the outdoors, hunting and fishing his entire life to provide food for his family and friends. Dad once said that it took a lot of deer and elk to keep the family fed. He organized pack trips nearly every year into Salmon River Country, or the Sawtooth Mountains.
He was preceded in death by his father, John A. Fry; his mother, Anna Olsen Fry; brothers, Martin and Donald (Sonny); sister, Anna Helm and his devoted wife, Ruth. He is survived by his children, Donald (Mary) Fry, Robert (Gayle) Fry, Thomas (Carol) Fry, Margaret (Barry) Fujishin, JC Fry, Michael (Cindy) Fry, and Patricia (Jeff) Currier. He also leaves behind numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, all of whom learned many life lessons from him.
Services will be held under the direction of the Potter Funeral Chapel at the Masonic Lodge in Horseshoe Bend, at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 21, 2015. Interment will follow at Pioneer Cemetery in Horseshoe Bend.