John A. Hafterson |
| Posted 2009-08-17 by Judy Wight Branson |
| The Camp Verde Bugle, Camp Verde, Arizona Friday, July 31, 2009 John A. Hafterson 77, of Camp Verde, AZ, passed away on July 28, 2009 after courageously living with Alzheimer's disease for the last five years. John was born on June 25, 1932 in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho and spent his childhood in Seattle, Washington, and on a cattle ranch his father purchased just outside of Arlington, Washington, called the Pilchuk Ranch. John graduated with a BS in Range Management from Utah State in 1954. In 1955 he began his career with the U.S. Forest Service at Beaver Creek, AZ. John served as Forest Ranger in both Crown King and Clifton. When in Clifton, John met Janet Ormsby in 1958, an elementary school teacher working in Morenci. Soon thereafter they eloped, marrying at the Little Chapel of the West in Las Vegas, Nevada. Daughters Kristin was born in 1959, and Susan was born in 1960. John's Forest Service career continued in Arizona where he served in Prescott as a fire and timber manager, and Happy Jack as District Forest Ranger. In the late 1960s through the mid 1970's, John's career took him to New Mexico, where he served on the Carson National Forest in Taos, and then the Regional Office in Albuquerque in fire control and air operations. In 1974, he became the Forest Supervisor for the Lincoln National Forest in Alamogordo. In the late 1970s, John transferred to Nevada as the Supervisor of the Humboldt National Forest In Elko. In 1980 he served for a short time with the BLM in Washington D.C. but soon returned to the Forest Service. In 1986 John retired from his position of National Director of Aviation and Fire Management. After retirement from federal service, John served for three years during the 1990's with the Arizona State Forestry Division as Director of Fire Management. Having retired at 55, John was able to enjoy all of his interests even more. Sailing, remodeling homes, camping and traveling with his wife were just a few. John and Jan also worked on a dude ranch in Jackson, WY for three summers. John briefly tried his hand at long haul trucking. He was a man of many talents, and as an artist, he created beautiful bronze and metal sculptures, pottery and watercolors. John is survived by Jan, his wife of 50 years; daughters Kristin (Eric) Schroth of Chico, CA; Susan Cullen of Mesa, Az; Brother James (Marion) Hafterson of Seattle, Wash.; and grandchildren Benjamin, Sarah and Erika. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, August 6th at 10:30 a.m. at Bueler Funeral Home, 143 West Arnold Street, Camp Verde, Az. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Northern Arizona Alzheimer's Association, 225 Grove Ave. Suite B. Prescott Az., 86301. Information provided by survivors. |
Note: These obituaries are transcribed as published and are submitted by volunteers who have no connection to the families. They do not write the obituaries and have no further information other than what is posted within the obituaries. We do not do personal research. For this you would have to find a volunteer who does this or hire a professional researcher.
Questions About This Project?