John Herbert Horne

“Dad, like everyone from the “GREATEST GENERATION” wore many hats throughout his life: the greatest as far as we were concerned, was being OUR DAD. To many others, he was a hard working Son, loving brother, husband Johnny to Barbara, Grandpa, Great Grandpa, Uncle John., a loyal Elk in Yreka, a friend to anyone who knew him, “the tootsie roll man” and an unassuming hero in WWII.” John was born on the Family Farm, in North Dakota on April 3, 1919, the youngest of 7 siblings. He had 1 brother and 6 sisters. He worked the farm with his Dad and siblings until his late teens. When he left the farm, he became an honest to goodness Cowboy in Montana, herding cattle and even worked on a Dude Ranch where he got a kick out of singing and playing the guitar for the “Easterners”. He left Montana for California and landed in Long Beach where his sister, Dagny, had already moved. John worked for Douglass Aircraft building planes for the war effort, until he was drafted into the Army in 1944. While in Belgium, he was wounded and eventually evacuated back to the States. During his short time in France and Belgium, he received two Bronze Stars for heroism, a Purple Heart and various combat medals. After his discharge, John returned to Long Beach and met and married Barbara Palmer, better known as Mom. He worked for the City of Long Beach Gas Department for 34 years until his retirement and a move to Hornbrook, California. They lived in their retirement home for 23 years, where they enjoyed camping and fishing at the R-Ranch and Dad’s activities with the Yreka Elks Lodge. John had an active and full life during his 96 years. He drove daily and made weekly trips to Oregon through his 95th year. Barbara passed away in January of 2015, leaving John with a broken heart. He left this world peacefully on August 24, 2015, with his family at his side, and with the knowledge that he would go to heaven and see his beloved wife again. John is survived by his two sons and their wives: Mike & Grace Horne of Tulare and Gary & Linda Horne of Montague; four grandchildren and their spouses, fifteen great-grandchildren; one surviving sister, Dagny Ronning of Visalia; and many many nieces and nephews. John will be greatly missed by all who knew him. A funeral service will be held for John on Saturday, August 29, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at Girdner Funeral Chapel, 202 S. Oregon St., Yreka.

John Herbert Horne

April 3, 1919 - August 24, 2015