Calvin Hoagland

“I have lived a good life, a cowboys dream come true. Thank you lord, fer I’m now ready to ride into eternity, me, my horse and you.” On Dec. 26, 2017, God took home one of the finest men we have ever known, Calvin Francis Hoagland, 96, of King Hill.

Cal was born to John Hoagland and Francis Lowe Hoagland on Nov. 2, 1921, in Nampa, Idaho. He graduated from Idaho Falls High School and worked as a ranch hand until he joined the Army Air Corp.

He fought in WWII as a Waist Gunner where he completed 25 successful combat missions over Nazi Europe. In a letter from Major General Doolittle, he stated, “The courage, coolness, and skill displayed by Sergeant Hoagland on all these occasions reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.”

Among his awards received were the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star and the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters.

After returning home, Cal married Edna Marie Lish and they had four children. He worked as an Iron Worker for many years and helped build numerous impressive overpasses, prominent buildings and the Perrine Bridge over the Snake River Canyon.

Cal had a love and passion for horses and was an accomplished horseman. In addition, Cal enjoyed gardening, hunting and knife making. He always had a song on his lips and an old cowboy poem to quote. He never had a bad thing to say about anyone and lived every day to its fullest.

Cal was a wonderful and loving husband, father and grandfather.

He is preceded in death by his wife Edna and all of his siblings.

He will be greatly missed by his children Lee (Bea), Kathy, Cheryl (Dan), Teresa (Bill) and all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 5, 2018, at the VFW Hall, Post #3646 in Glenns Ferry, followed by military funeral honors at Glenn Rest Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations are preferred to Glenns Ferry VFW, Post #3646, PO Box 483, Glenns Ferry, Id 83623.

Arrangements were under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel, in Mountain Home.