John Colby Huckelberry

John Colby Huckelberry, 71, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, September 22. The son of Guy and Gerine Huckelberry, John was born April 10, 1943 in Sioux Rapids, Iowa. He was a graduate of Sioux Valley High School and continued his education at Westmar College in LeMars, Iowa earning his Bachelors Degree in Education. John was a member of the Westmar Eagles basketball, cross country and track teams. While at Westmar, he met his wife of 50 years, Janice Sprick. John and Janice married on February 1, 1964 in LeMars, Iowa.

John received his first teaching and coaching assignment in Colfax, Iowa as an Industrial Arts teacher and coached girls’ basketball. He later taught Industrial Arts, Drivers Education and coached numerous sports at Brooklyn, Albert City-Truesdale and Dallas Center-Grimes school districts in Iowa.

John and Janice moved to Arizona in 1987 and settled in Tempe, Arizona. He continued his education by earning his Masters of Education from Northern Arizona University. John taught his last 17 years at Poston Junior High School in Mesa, Arizona teaching Math and Industrial Technologies before retiring in 2004.

John was an avid golfer, enjoyed hunting, training Labrador Retrievers, working on his classic cars and working with wood. In retirement, John indulged in his true passion of wood working by restoring and refurbishing antique furniture. His passion for antiques bridged many friendships across the country, throughout the years.

John is survived by his wife Janice, his sons Kyle (Angie) of Prosper, Texas, John (Sarah) of Mesa, Arizona and his grandchildren Justin, Rylie, Colby and Augustus. Additionally, he is survived by his brother David of Ely, Minnesota, Uncle Allen Colby of Minneapolis, Minnesota and extended family and friends.

Services for John will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, October 4 at Lakeshore Mortuary, 1815 S Dobson Road, Mesa, AZ 85202. A lunch reception will follow at noon with the location to be announced.

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation in memory of John C Huckelberry to Lymphoma Research Foundation at http://www.lymphoma.org/ or National Parkinson Foundation at http://www.parkinson.org/.

Arrangements under the direction of Lakeshore Mortuary, Mesa, AZ.