John Robert Ferree

John Robert Ferree Jr. was born March 3, 1937 in Dayton Ohio to John Robert Ferree Sr. and Mary Florine Reboulet Ferree. He was the oldest of two children.
His father worked for Sherwin Williams and was transferred to Buenos Aires, Argentina when John was three years old. They lived there for three years until his father was called back to the states to serve in WWII. After the war, they returned to Argentina and stayed until John was in the 7th grade when his family moved to California.
He graduated from San Gabriel Mission High school in California in 1955 where he met his future wife Susan Mary Bresser when he was 18 years old and she was 16 years old. They were married July 11,1959 in California at Holy Angles Church. They returned to Dayton Ohio where John graduated from the University of Dayton in 1960 with a degree in electrical engineering. He was hired by a company in California where he designed small motors. One of his designs was used to flush the toilet on a 747 aircraft and one of his motors went on an Apollo mission to space. He was also proud of a one inch square motor he designed.
John decided in the early 70’s to move his now large family out of California. He looked all over the Northwest and chose Boise when he found a job with Idaho Power. He said it was one of the best decisions of his life. While working and raising a family in Idaho, he went back to school at Boise State University and earned an MBA.
He worked for Idaho Power for 25 years and at the end of his career he was the administrator of co-generation. He retired from Idaho Power in 1995.
John and Sue took a lot of trips after he retired. In 2007 they decided to move to a senior community where he joined the HOA board and was in charge of landscaping issues. He loved flowers and plants (especially orchids and roses). He loved doing yardwork and hated dandelions. When his yard was being taken care of by the HOA, he would still go around the neighborhood spraying weeds and also go to St Marks church to pull and spray weeds. Many probably remember him toting around his orange 5-gallon bucket and tank sprayer as he tried to satisfy his need to weed.
John was a long time HAM radio operator using morse code to communicate for much of his life. Later he would use a microphone and talk to people all over the world, sometimes late at night. He tried square dancing (probably Sue’s idea) which they both enjoyed. He was a 50-gallon Red Cross blood donor over his lifetime. He served on the school board of St Mark’s school.
He loved big family get togethers and his family will miss him very much.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years Susan, his six children Michelle Hilton (Richard), Bob Ferree (Marilyn), Jackie Ferree, Bill Ferree (Shari), Peter Ferree, Jennifer Escure (Wes), his 12 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, his sister Martha Ruthmeyer (Bernard) of St Louis Missouri and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was a man of deep faith and a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St Mark’s Catholic Church 7960 Northview Boise Idaho on April 17 at 1:00pm. Everyone is welcome to attend but masks will be required. Mass will be live streamed and recorded on St Mark’s website https://www.stmarksboise.org/ and their Facebook page. An open house will be held after the service at the Englefield Green clubhouse (527 Whisperwood Way)
In lieu of flowers a donation can be made to Birthright of Boise.