John E. Ousterhout

Published 1:08 pm Tuesday, November 5, 2024

John E. Ousterhout

June 14, 1925 – October 26, 2024

John E. Ousterhout, 99, died peacefully after a short illness on October 26, 2024. He was born on June 14, 1925 in Deming, New Mexico. His parents (George Ousterhout, called “Pop,” and Lelia May nee Farrow) and his three brothers moved to the Rogue Valley around 1930, and soon managed to buy a farm, despite being nearly broke, next door to the farm of his Aunt Mary and her husband Carl Esch. They eked out a living with the usual Depression era crops and animals, until Pop began a long career raising turkeys.

When Dad was in high school his brothers went away to college or the military. Dad stayed to manage the farm and care for his dying mother and ailing father. After high school, Dad enlisted and spent two years in the Army’s occupation of Japan. Home on leave, he fell in love with Evelyn Nill, and they soon married. Daughter Gretchen was born in 1951 when Mom and Dad were in school at Oregon State.

Dad taught for a year in Woodburn but he always wanted to farm. He bought a piece of land from his Uncle Carl, and built a house while beginning to farm. Sons Alan and John came along, and Dad took over the farm from his father. At one time he was farming around 1,000 acres, and in the late 1970s he became one of the first to grow winegrapes in the Rogue Valley. Gretchen took over the grape business in 2005, with Dad as her right-hand man until he decided to more or less retire. Evelyn died in 2014. The ending of their 65 year marriage was heart-breaking for Dad but he managed to take a few Road Scholar trips, and thanks to the encouragement of his beloved son-in-law Bob Hunter, took up fly-fishing (at 89!) and cribbage.

Dad was exceptionally creative and innovative. He won numerous awards from agricultural organizations, served on the Grange Co-op Board, and was one of the early organizers of what was then the Oregon Grape Growers Association. He could repair almost anything, was an expert with computers, and enjoyed years as an AARP Tax Help volunteer. He was a significant supporter of ACCESS Food bank, Earthjustice, and Waterwatch of Oregon.

He was the kindest, most loving, generous, and patient father and friend anyone could have. He was also very funny, a true master of the quintessential Dad joke. We will have a small private memorial in the spring.