Jack Allen Jost

Jack Allen Jost was born in Bakersfield to Jim and Clara Jost (Hillebrand).  Jack, beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle and friend passed away on June 6, 2022 at the age of 84.  Jack was a well-known builder in Bakersfield for 65 years building hundreds of high quality custom homes into his 80’s. At 6 ft. 6 inches tall with a beautiful smile, he would light up a room.

As a child and teenager, he grew up in a close family and a large extended family (58 first cousins and 32 aunts and uncles).  His dad, also a building contractor, taught his two sons home construction and how to work hard, hunt, fish, and enjoy the outdoors. His mom was a registered nurse who was full of fun and life, loved her family, her animals, music (she played the piano “by ear”), and square dancing. He often said how lucky he was to have had such wonderful parents.

Jack and his brother Richard had a dart board in their bedroom.  They became so expert at throwing darts that they, with their friend Ron Neff, one summer won 40 large stuffed animals at the Kern County Fair until the carnival vendors refused to let them play anymore!  

Family vacations often included going to a lake for water skiing and fishing or clamming in Pismo. Holidays were always spent with large family gatherings. As an adult, Jack continued this tradition and loved entertaining his kids and grandkids, as well as friends, subcontractors and clients at family BBQs.

Jack graduated from East Bakersfield High School in 1956 where he competed in boxing (Silver Glove award). As a teenager, Jack hiked the Sierra and summited Half Dome with his brother and cousin Grant.  He was a member of the Debonaire Ballroom Dance Club and was an excellent dancer.  He was known for his cool cars in high school and his fun, likeable nature.  

Jack married Bonnie Pierson in 1958 and they had six wonderful kids, 13 grandkids, 8 great grandkids and had a very full life.  When Bonnie and Jack decided to have Judi, Jami and Jeff, they designed and built their dream home on the Kern River with a pond and pasture home to chickens, pigs, horses, buffalo, goats, peacocks and many other farm animals. The three younger kids brought their school classes on fieldtrips home to visit the animals and enjoy all that the property had to offer.

They hosted many weddings, parties and Friday BBQs at their showcase home.

He got his pilot’s license and bought a twin engine Comanche plane and flew his family to the coast, Canada, and he also flew his sister to Northern California to check out college. His kids remember Jack coaching his son Jerry’s baseball team, supporting the local baseball team and remodeling the stadium in the 1970’s, being active with his oldest son Jerry in the Cub Scouts, picking up the younger kids from school and getting Frosty’s, riding dune buggies at the beach, camping, trips to Lake Isabella, fishing, water skiing and snow skiing at their cabin, and caring for 4H animals.

Jack was a true outdoorsman enjoying Nature, camping, hunting, fishing, country life, gardening, spending time with his kids and grandkids, and tending to his animals and property.  

In 1983 he married Sharyn Craig and built a home for them overlooking the Kern River. in his later years he enjoyed gardening, family gatherings especially Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving, and their ponies and dogs.

His family and friends love him very much and he will be forever missed and remembered by many who appreciated his kindness, generosity, and love. He is survived by his children Jerry (Karen) Jost, Cheri (Ron) Thompson, Jackie Hahn, Judi (John) Newton, Jami (Darren) Graham, Jeff (Helen) Jost, stepson Bryan (Drinnean) Craig, his brother Richard (Karen) Jost and sister Barbara (Earl) Byron, Jack’s former spouse Bonnie Jean Tucker, as well as 13 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and 2 nieces and 2 nephews. He was predeceased by his second wife Sharyn Jost, his mother and father Clara and Jim Jost, grandson Wes Hahn, great grandson Nate Street, and stepson Michael Craig.

Services will be held Saturday, July 9 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:45, Hillcrest Memorial, 9101 Kern Canyon Road,  followed by graveside service from 9:45 – 10:00 a.m. Please bring masks for indoors, if you plan to attend the services.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hillcrestmemorial.com for the Jost family.