John Henry Hogue

John H Hogue, 92, passed away peacefully at Chehalis West on May 16, 2018, with his family by his side. John had a brief three  month battle with Cancer.  He was born February 10, 1926 at Kennicott Hospital in Chehalis Wa. to Henry P and Sallie J Hogue.  He attended the Boistfort School through 10th grade when he quit to work for the Kaiser Shipyards as a Shipfitter and other jobs before he was drafted into the Army in 1944, WW II.During his service in WW II he was First Gunner, leading a machine gun squad until the war ended at which time he became a chauffeur for Military and Civilian Personnel to the Nuremberg Trials. John was discharged June 4, 1946.

Before being deployed for active service, John married Doris Steiger in October 1944.  John and Doris would have celebrated 74 years of marriage this coming October 2018.

Following his discharge and return home John worked in a saw mill in Galvin WA until 1948 when he started driving log and dump trucks for the Weyerhaeuser Company for 22 years and then Stacker Operator until his retirement in July 1986. John was instrumental in establishing the Boistfort Volunteer Fire Department where he served as Fire Chief for 17 years.  John also was an active member of the Boistfort School Distict Board of Directors in the 1960's.

John loved fishing, camping with his family as well as reading and wordworking in his shop.  He was best known for his 25 years as a Water Dowser with a history of over 1000 wells with a 99% success rate. John also had a gift for storytelling and no matter how many times he told them he would laugh again. In February 2016 John celebrated his 90 year of life with a community birthday party at the Baw Faw grange with 3 of his first grade class mates. 

John is survived by his wife Doris of over 73 years; children Jacque(Dave) Hill of Soldotna, AK; Scott(Punky)Hogue of Adna, WA;6 grandsons, Curtis, Chad, and Casey Hill, Kevin, Carl and Conner Hogue. 6 Great-grandchildren, Melissa, Delanie, Emily, Carter, Caitlyn and Henry.  Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

John was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Dorothy and Bernica and son John Michael Hogue, who died in combat  serving in the Vietnam War in July of 1968.

A Full Military Graveside service will be held, Thursday May 24, 2018 at the Historic Claquato Cemetary at 11:00 AM.

 In lieu of flowers the family suggest memorials be made to, Boistfort Fire Department, PO Box 16, Curtis WA 98538, or the Veterans Memorial Museum, 100 SW Veterans Way, Chehalis WA 98532. 

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