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Col. John Hudson, 93

John E. Hudson, 93, went home to be with the Lord on Dec. 30, 2016. He was born Dec. 6, 1923, to Robert and Lucille Hudson (both deceased) in Lake Wales, Fla. He passed away in Post Falls, Idaho, with family present.

John received a Professional Engineering Degree from the Colorado School of Mines in 1950 where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He served in the U.S. Army in Europe from 1944 to 1946 and was in the Battle of the Bulge at Bastogne as an enlisted man; he also served as a field artillery officer at Pork Chop Hill in Korea 1951-1952. He retired from the military in l972 with the rank of Colonel. Among many awards, he received the Silver Star, Bronze Star with OLC, Purple Heart, Commendation Medal with clusters and the French Croix de Guerre.

After his military service, he was a Professional Engineer and registered in five states in addition to being registered as a certified General Contractor and Real Estate Broker. He was married to Patricia L. Fertig (deceased May 14, 2013) from l950 to 1975. They had four children: The Rev. Robert Wendell Hudson (Barbara), Maysville, Ky.; Thomas Michael Hudson (Rebecca), Arvada, Colo.; Mary Lucille Hudson (Vincent), Kellogg, Idaho; and Patricia Jeanne Forbes (Preston Rutherford), Post Falls. He married Suzanne Thorstensen Gardner (deceased April 13, 2013) in 1980 and has two stepsons: Steven M. Gardner (Valerie), Lyons, Colo.; and Thomas S. Gardner (Jo), Lake Havasu, Ariz. He has seven grandchildren, three great-grandsons and 10 great-granddaughters. Two brothers also survive John: Robert E. Hudson (Jan), Casper, Wyo.; and Dr. Thomas L. Hudson (Courtney), Amarillo, Texas.

John was an avid golfer and had six holes-in-one. He enjoyed flying and had six planes, and enjoyed owning many boats throughout his life. Besides golfing, he belonged to many bowling leagues and carried a 185 average with a high game of 289. He loved traveling with Suzanne. His favorite trip was flying on the Concorde to England and returning on the QE-2. Suzanne and John made two month-long trips to Europe, visited all 50 states, Canada, Hawaii and Mexico. They lived in Florida, Colorado and Idaho.

He will be interred with his loving wife, Suzanne, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Memorial service arrangements will be at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, John requested that memorial contributions be made to Hospice of North Idaho, 9493 N. Government Way, Hayden, ID 83835.