Tribute

John Gahringer, Jr. went home to be with the Lord early in the morning of October 25, 2016.

John was born July 5, 1924 in Oak Park, Ill., a suburb of Chicago, to John and Alice Barclay Gahringer. He affectionately became known most of his life as “Jack.”

He came to Wenatchee when he was one-year-old with his mother, living with his grandfather, Frank Gahringer, a major Wenatchee orchardist, while his father John Gahringer, Sr. completed his medical residency in Chicago.

He attended Columbia School, Ellison Junior High and Wenatchee High School, graduating in 1942.

While he was at Reed College in Eugene, Ore. in premed, he was drafted by the Army for service.

An army lieutenant during World War II, he served as the head medic of a field hospital in the Phillipines for nine months and then served in occupied Japan, returning home in August 1946.

Upon his return home, he resumed his studies at the University of Washington, receiving his medical degree in 1952. He moved back to Wenatchee to join his father’s medical practice. He later headed up the practice. He served the communities of Wenatchee, Waterville and Odessa as a family physician for a total of 40 years.

John also served on many community boards and as the Treasurer for the American Medical Association. He very much enjoyed being an active part of community activities. He was a Boy Scout leader for over 30 years, receiving the Silver Beaver award.

While he lived in Odessa, he founded the Odessa Historical Museum and was curator for many years with his wife, Florence.

He loved to take artistic photos and hand-develop them and to write articles, letters and poems. He received a camera at the age of seven from an aunt and never stopped taking pictures. He joined the Writers’ Club at the Senior Center two years ago and attended faithfully. His first love was to be a photo journalist. It remained his hobby to the end of his life.

He loved all kinds of music recordings, even building his own stereos from scratch, but jazz was his favorite. He spent many hours actively working with Don Lanphere and his band as well as with Jack Brownlow and other Wenatchee musicians.

He was also an avid gardener. Growing flowers and vegetables was his main summer occupation throughout his adult years. It was a hobby he adopted from his father.

He is survived by his daughters Pamela Day, Michelle Taylor and Rebecca Gahringer and his son Tracy Gahringer; sister-in-law Marlene Gahringer; nephews Eric Gahringer, Bodin Gahringer and Eli Gahringer; nieces Erin Gahringer and Sheila Robbins.

He was preceded in death by his parents John E. Gahringer, Sr. and Alice Barclay Gahringer; his brother Dan Gahringer and his sister Allie Jo Robbins. He was also preceded in death by his wives, Naomi Smith Gahringer, Colleen Slessinger Gahringer, Marilyn Jones Gahringer and Florence Stout Gahringer.

A Celebration of Life service will be held December 10 at 2 p.m. at New Song Community Church in East Wenatchee.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to the American Heart Association, the Diabetes Foundation or the Humane Society would be appreciated. You are invited to view his online guestbook at: http://www.HeritageMemorialChapel.com. Arrangements are assisted by Heritage Memorial Chapel, East Wenatchee.