 |
John R. Holmquist Federal Way, WA QCWA # 17824 Chapter 4 |
His early life was spent in the Vancouver area, but, in 1940 and Canada's entrance into World War II, he came with his parents to Portland, Oregon.
He graduated from Benson Polytechnic High School in 1942 where he began his lifelong interest in and love of anything connected with electrical, electronic, and mechanical engineering, astronomy and photography.
He was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1943, serving in the European Theater with elements of the Eighth Air Force as a radioman and communications technician. He consequently developed what was to become a life-long passion for amateur radio, qualifying for his HAM license shortly after returning to civilian life in 1946 and receiving his call sign W7WAY which has graced the license plates of his automobiles for many years since.
In 1948 he met and married Carol Lee McFadden, a Kansas native, living and working in Portland. Shortly thereafter he matriculated at Oregon State University, graduating with a degree in electrical engineering.
He also began work as an electrician with the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company at Longview, Washington, beginning a career that expanded into electrical engineering and an expertise in industrial power systems that he continued for 56 years with that company and continued for many years after his retirement as he was a much-valued consultant on almost anything having to do with electricity.
John was a Fellow and Senior Member of IEEE, and an active member of and participant in TAPPI, the Technical Association of the Pulp, Paper, and Converting Industry, and authored and co-authored numerous technical papers for both these organizations. He was a lifetime member of the ARRL, the National Association for Amateur Radio, and a longtime member of the Federal Way Amateur Radio Club, his loyalty to this group continuing through regular Sunday evening
"check-ins" almost to the end of his life.
John was an "Oregon-stater," and was inducted into the Oregon State School of Engineering Hall of Fame. He was recognized throughout industry for his many accomplishments, his common sense, open demeanor and cheerfulness, and his willingness to mentor and support the careers of others, both men and women. He was dedicated to being a
"doer" who "did things right." He may have been willing to be shown to be wrong, but, since he never was, that cannot be known.
John was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Sarah Louise Yarborough, by a son David Holmquist, and by his wife of nearly seventy years, Carol Lee Holmquist. His is survived by his sister Marion Lucille Harp of Salem, by a daughter and son-in-law, Laura Lee and Tom Yarborough of Vancouver, WA, by a grandson Micah Yarborough and his wife Bobbi Jo of Portland, a grandson Andrew Yarborough, also of Portland, by a grandson Deyvon Holmquist of Chehalis WA, and by two great-grandchildren, Jonas and Josephine Yarborough of Portland.
RIP W7WAY