John Angus (Jack) Mcleod 1921 – 2011
John Angus (Jack) Mcleod 1921 – 2011
Jack was born March 13th, l921 in Boise to a prominent Scottish couple, J. T. (Tom) and Elizabeth Ferguson McLeod . After attending Lowell School and Boise High School, he volunteered for the military. He was a fine musician playing trumpet, following family tradition. Jack’s father was Boise’s sole bagpiper who played in parades and social gatherings for many years. For a time, Jack was stationed at Fort Lewis in Tacoma and played for Officer Club dances. In his spare time, he took up ice-skating and became an especially fine figure skater. He spent five years in the service at various locations.
After WW2, he returned to Boise and enrolled at Boise Junior College where he met Adelaide Schooler. It was love at first sight. After Jr. College, Jack and Adelaide graduated from the University of Oregon where Jack majored in Mathematics. Upon graduation, they were married and made their home below Hungry Horse Dam in northern Montana where Jack was hired as a hydrologic engineer. They spent many treasurer days at Glacier Park hiking and camping. A son, John Michael, was born in a Quonset hut in Whitefish, Montana. When the dam was completed Jack and family moved to Boise where Jack continued his work with the Bureau of Reclamation. Son Thomas Gregory was born to be followed seven years later by Kevin Joseph.
Jack was a caring dad and became the Cub Scout leader for the two older boys and then Indian Guide leader. “Big Red Cloud” to son Kevin’s “Little Red Cloud.” Jack was a kind and gentle man with a quick wit and a heart filled with love for his family. With the advent of the first computers, Jack flew regularly to Portland and San Francisco to access a computer as there were none yet in Boise. The computers were so large they filled massive rooms. It was years before computers became more manageable. Jack had an artistic eye and designed the family’s first Boise home which was so unique it caused quite a stir about town. All three of his sons carry on his talent for design. Hatcher and Javernick Contractors were so taken with Jack’s ability that they enlisted him to design homes for them in his spare time. Because there was nothing left that Jack could do to embellish his own home, and to keep him from knocking down walls, Adelaide would find a fixer upper, from time to time, to keep Jack and his buddy Pat Patrick out of trouble.
Jack and Adelaide along with her sister Jane and brother-in-law Sam Griffin traveled the world for many years, enjoying the experience and especially each other more than words can say. Jack spent many happy hours teaching his grandson Kris to play the trumpet as he had his son John years before. Jack went on to design a fun-filled cabin on Payette Lake in a development they were involved in. Two years later Jack designed a new home on the river in Plantation which they enjoyed together for eighteen years. Jack retired from the Bureau of Reclamation in 1983. A few years later, he accepted the appointment as River Commissioner where he served pro-bono for about eighteen years and up to the time of his death. He thoroughly enjoyed this work and especially his friendship with Steve Sweet. Jack, a stubborn Scot, lived a life of grace, on his own terms – with humor, modest needs, selflessness and amazing wisdom. Never did he utter an unkind word about anyone or did he know a stranger. Adelaide’s life was much enriched by his positive spirit.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents and his niece Susan Elizabeth Oliver Casimes. Jack leaves his wife, Adelaide, his three sons, John Michael, Thomas Gregory and Kevin Joseph, his daughter-in-law Kathi, three grandchildren, James McLeod, Kori McLeod Byrd and her husband Andy Byrd, and Kris McLeod and a great-grand son, John Michael Drew Byrd. Mary McLeod Oliver, his only sibling, Robert W. Oliver, her husband, and their son Rob and his children, Jane and Sam Griffin his sister-in-law and brother-in law, their daughter Cheryl Griffin and sons Gabe and Nick, nephew Craig Griffin, his wife Debra and their children, Emily and Tyler and nephew Jay Griffin, wife Jane and daughter Maris. And not to be forgotten, his Golden Retriever, Nicker.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Alden Chapel, Saturday, February 19th at 11.00 A. M. followed by a lunch gathering at 6595 Plantation Lane.
He was our hero -- we loved him well.
Tootalooski, Jack!
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