John Paul Hill

John Paul Hill, 88, of Buhl died peacefully in his home Saturday, October 22, 2016, after a long and painful battle with cancer, Multiple Myeloma. He fought so hard to stay alive, but eventually the cancer took its toll.

John was born January 29, 1928 to Charles and Pearl (Prough) Hill. They lived in the Buhl and Castleford area. John graduated from Castleford High School in 1946. Dad served in the Army as Private First Class and was stationed in Germany from 1951-1953. One of his duties was to drive one of the Generals around. After his service, John returned to Buhl and took up farming with his brothers Bud and Charlie. On December 11, 1960, he married a beautiful woman from Buhl, Eileen May Zagata. They were married for 46 years until her passing in 2007. Together they raised six children. Connie (Wayne) Courtney, Linda Hill, Bart (Julie) Hill, Elizabeth Hill (Ken Betts), Mary (Rick) DiMaggio, and Frank (Jana) Hill. He had eleven grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren with one on the way.

John was a hard-working man ever since the day he could walk. He lived to work and instilled that work ethic in his children. Even after he quit farming, he grew a bountiful garden and found great pleasure in watching his two sons prosper in the custom farming business. He loved to watch the action at the pit during corn chopping. In addition to working, he had many great adventures in the army, flying planes and riding motorcycles with his brothers, hunting, fishing, panning for gold, and winning many awards in rifle competitions. Although he always talked of going places, home is where his heart was and where he wanted to be. He was a charismatic man with the gift a gab. There wasn't a sole that he couldn't strike up a conversation with. And he never missed the chance to get a hug, especially from the ladies.

John was preceded in death by his wife, Eileen, parents Charles Hill and Pearl, step father Jess Howerton, brother Jack Hill, sister Marylin (Bo) Potucek, sister Anita (Tootie) Honcik, in-laws Frank and Grace Zagata. He is survived by his children, brothers Wilbur (Bud) Hill and Charlie Hill of Buhl,  sister Betty Jeppesen of Twin Falls, brother-in-law Bob (Geri) Zagata, sister-in-law Kathy Zagata along with a host of nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be at Buhl West End Cemetery on Thursday, October 27, 2016 at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Desert View or Visions Hospice.

All services and arrangements are under the direction of the Parke's Magic Valley Funeral Home of Twin Falls, Idaho.