John Toolson, Jr.

Jerome - Colonel (ret) John Max Toolson Jr, 80, died Wednsday morning, February 11, 2015 in Buckeye, Arizona.  John was born in Logan, Utah, October 13, 1934 to John Max Toolson Sr and Norma Watson Toolson. He was raised in Utah until his family moved to Jerome, Idaho.  John graduated from Jerome High School in 1952 and from Idaho State University in 1956. He was commissioned into the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1956. He received a Master’s Degree from Central Michigan University in 1975 and attended the National War College in 1976.

He married his high school sweetheart, Janet Marie Henry in 1955 and they had two children, Julie and John.  After many years of marriage, they divorced.  John later married Jerre Lynn Nelson McIntrye in 1988 and was a father to her sons, Reggie and Jacoby.

John was a career Armor officer and Army aviator for 27 years, attaining the rank of colonel. He served two tours of combat in Vietnam.  In Vietnam, he commanded two Air Calvary Troops of the First Squadron, Ninth Calvary, First Calvary Division: C “Charlie” Troop, and briefly, B “Bravo” Troop.  He then became the Executive Officer “XO” for the squadron, which he also commanded later in Fort Hood, Texas. For his service to his country, he was awarded numerous awards and decorations, including the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal with “V” device for valor, Army Commendation with “V” device for valor, and the Purple Heart.

John was rated in fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft, and at the end of his service, he commanded as a Colonel, the 11 ^th Aviation Group in Germany, and retired from the Army, March 1, 1980.

He returned to Jerome where he farmed for several years prior to buying a small insurance agency. In 1987, he became a dealer for Pioneer Hi-Bred International.  He and his son have built one of the largest dealerships in the western United States. In addition to selling seed, they custom plant over 9,000 acres for their seed customers.

John was active in local politics for a number of years. He served on the Jerome County Planning and Zoning board for three years and was elected to the board of County Commissioners for two terms from 1995 through 2001.

After his community service, he continued to be involved in his seed and custom farming business, but to a lesser degree, and eventually began to spend winters in Arizona and summers in Idaho. He enjoyed the benefits of semi-retirement, some of which were golfing, riding, training, and showing his horses, as well as driving his Razor ATV across the Arizona desert with his dog, Maximus, for the last several years.

He will be remembered by those who loved him as someone they could count on; someone who loved them.  He was generous and supportive of his family.  He was a regular contributor to the Wounded Warrior Project, as well as Save the Children.  He supported local sports and youth organizations.

He is survived by his wife; Jerre Lynn, his daughter; Julie Principe, son; John (Vanessa) M Toolson III,  stepsons; Reggie and Jacoby McIntyre, sisters; Maxine Bell, Shari Oneida, Linda Burton, many nieces and nephews, five grandchildren and one great grandchild. He is preceded in death by his parents, John M Toolson Sr, and Norma and Norman Barry, and two nephews, Scott and Randy Bell.

A memorial for John will take place Saturday, March 14, 2015, at 10am  at the Jerome LDS 5th Ward Chapel, 100 South 50 East in Jerome, Idaho. He will be buried at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Wounded Warrior Project www. woundedwarriorproject .org/ Donate , or mail to: Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675, or to St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, www. stjude .org/ , or mail to St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.  Arrangements are under the care of Farnsworth Mortuary of Jerome.