John Phillip Toelkes

John Phillip Toelkes, DVM of Brentwood, Contra Costa County, California, peacefully passed away surrounded by loved ones on August 25, 2025.

John was born on November 19, 1933, in Bisbee, AZ, to James Nicholas and Mary Ellen (Ryan) Toelkes.

John's youth was spent in Bisbee, Long Beach, CA; Pachacayo, Peru; El Paso, TX; and Denver, CO. He had great admiration and respect for Latin American culture that began when he was a teenager learning from large animal veterinarians on a sheep and cattle ranch in the mountains of Peru.

John served his country as an enlisted Corpsman in the US Navy from 1951 to 1954, stationed in Korea, Okinawa, San Diego, and Philadelphia. After discharge from the Navy, John attended college (courtesy of the GI Bill) at Texas Western University (now UT El Paso) and Texas A&M University. John graduated from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine class of 1962.

John married Linda Jamene (Reno) Toelkes in Douglas, AZ, in 1963.

John practiced veterinary medicine in Douglas, AZ; Abilene, TX; and Norman, OK from 1962-1978. He was in partnership with his '62 classmate Dr. John Beall from 1965 to 1976. John took great pride in his work and loved serving the needs of large animal clients, pet owners and zoos in Texas, Arizona and Oklahoma. He greatly enjoyed the thousands of days he spent working with Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, and their handlers. John especially looked forward to the arrival of new foals each spring.

In 1978 a client in Merkel, TX, Buster Welch, referred John to King Ranch leadership, who at the time were seeking an equine veterinarian to assist in expanding the Ranch's presence in the cutting horse industry. The rest is history regarding John's professional career. From 1978-2008 John was employed as Veterinarian for King Ranch in Kingsville, TX. John's work included leading a great team that further developed and transformed the Ranch's quarter horse breeding program.

John described his 30 years at King Ranch as "pure pleasure". He loved South Texas, including the people, history, flora, and wildlife. Most of all John loved the people that worked the ranch, the Kineños. For many years he was honored to be the announcer for the annual King Ranch rodeo held for the employees and their children.

While in Kingsville John took up golf. He enjoyed the camaraderie developed while playing friendly rounds with a cast of colorful friends and characters at the L.E. Ramey Municipal Golf Course and in later years at public courses around Brentwood and Antioch, CA. John carded his third hole-in-one four months before his death!

Following John's retirement in 2008, he and Jamene moved to Brentwood to be close to their two young granddaughters. They had a wonderful life in California, and cherished their time with the girls, watching them grow into accomplished young women.

Throughout his long and interesting life, John made friends of all ages and all walks of life. Nobody could tell a story like John, and he had so many unique experiences to draw from that you wanted to listen to him for hours.

John was admired, respected, and well-loved. He leaves behind a long trail of friends and family who will miss his strong voice, his sage advice, his humor, his warm heart, and his brilliant mind.

John was preceded in death by his wife Jamene, and his older sister Maureen Toelkes.

John is survived by his sister, Kathleen Toelkes of Bothell, WA; son Philip Toelkes (Kathy) of Brentwood; son Dell Toelkes (Suzy) of Houston, TX; granddaughters Sarah Toelkes of Newport Beach, CA; and Hannah Toelkes of Irvine, CA; as well as his Louisiana in-laws from Tangipahoa Parish, sister-in-law Sheila Reno; nieces Jamene Dahmer and Tracy Farris (Pat); nephew Jay Dahmer (Charlotte); and grandnieces Leah Mollere and Catherine Dahmer; and many, many friends.

John's life history is also documented in a You Tube interview entitled, "John Toelkes - Biography", a video biography produced by family friend Alan Wang as a memorial for John's family.