John Oliver Stewart

Lt. Col John Oliver Stewart, USA (Ret)

John Oliver Stewart formally of Phoenix, Arizona passed away peacefully on January 28, 2023 at The Gables Memory Care facility in Pocatello at the age of 88. He was born in Kewanee, Illinois to Frederick Jarratt and Elizabeth Oliver Stewart on June 2, 1934.

John attended Colorado College where he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and at his graduation ceremony in 1958 was commissioned a 2nd LT in the Chemical Corps of the United States Army. He served honorably for over twenty-three years retiring with the rank of LTC. During his time of service he was stationed at many locations statewide and also served overseas with the 3 rd Armored Calvary Regiment, Baumholder Germany during the Cuban Missile crisis, at MACV Headquarters United Nations Command, Saigon, Vietnam during the Vietnam war and served with the Headquarters United Nations Command 8th Army in South Korea. He was a graduate of the US Army Command and General Staff Officer Course and awarded the Bronze Star for service in Vietnam. He also was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (Ft. Hood) and the Joint Service Commendation Medal (Vietnam). He was a Life Member of The Retired Officers Association.

He was known to tell people that the best part of his four. years at CC was meeting his wife Judy on a blind date. It obviously turned out to be a good match as they celebrated their 65th anniversary on June 14 2022 an anniversary he never forgot because it always fell on Flag Day.

After retiring from the military, he and his family moved to Phoenix where he tried several careers: managing the Metro Nautilus Fitness Center, sales for Century 21 Real Estate, Donor Resources Specialist for Arizona Blood Services, and found his second career at the Department of Civil Defense and Emergency Services for Maricopa County Arizona.

Fun times were spent playing his clarinet in Phoenix where he participated in the Phoenix College Community band and orchestra, the City of Glendale Summer band and the Arizona Prosit German band and in Pocatello where he was a member of the Snake River New Horizons Band and also participated in the Summer Municipal band.

John will be remembered as a kind, thoughtful, easy-going man with a wonderful sense of humor and when suitable on many occasions was known to announce, "Please don't stand up I hate hero worship."

John was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter Susan Stewart Matkin.

He is survived by his wife Judith Stewart, his sons Charles (Chuck) Stewart of Pocatello and Andrew (Pam) Stewart of Phoenix, grandsons Sam Matkin and Hunter Stewart both of Pocatello, and also son-in-law John Matkin of Pocatello and his cousins Merry Rossini in California and Susan Wallace in Wisconsin

The family would like to thank the caregivers at The Gables Memory Care #2 and Heritage Home Health & Hospice for their loving care, support and kindness.

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A memorial service will be held at a later date.