Jack Leveir Ballard

LIFE SKETCH OF JACK LEVEIR BALLARD Jack Leveir Ballard was born October 5, 1928 in Victor, Idaho. He joined his family of John Rufus Ballard (father), Alfretta Wolstenhulme (mother), and older sister Afton Ballard in Victor, Idaho. Later came Goldie, Rita and Larry Ballard. Goldie died of whooping cough while a toddler. Jack's father ran a café in Victor and was also a potato, hay and dairy farmer. Shortly after Jack graduated from high school, his family moved to Pocatello where his father formed a partnership at Pocatello Supply (similar to IFA store), and he ran the store until his retirement. Jack's mother was a beautiful and slender lady who is remembered for her exceptional cooking and housekeeping. As a child Jack excelled in school and athletics. In high school, Jack played football, basketball, baseball, lifted weights, etc. If there was a sport, he did it. He talked about his glory days on the football field until the end of his life. After high school he attended university at Pocatello, then spent three years in the US Air Force. It was during the time of the Korean War and he was stationed in Alaska. He never saw any combat, but he learned to fly, which was a passion the rest of his life. He loved the raw and rugged Alaska countryside and went back there many times to vacation. Upon leaving the Air Force, he obtained the GI bill and took the funds to study chiropody. He was accepted at the California School of Podiatric Medicine in San Francisco. Jack married LaDonna Jean Ross on September 1, 1952, and they moved to San Francisco. During their time in California they had two daughters: Janet Jean Ballard born on December 7, 1953 and Carole Lynn Ballard on January 25, 1955. After graduation the family of four returned to Pocatello where Jack set up his practice in Twin Falls. A note about chiropody and podiatry: Chiropodist and podiatrist are both terms that refer to health professionals concerned with the treatment and diagnosis of complaints occurring in the foot, ankle and lower limb up to, but not including, the knee. Podiatrist has replaced chiropodist as a general use term since about 1977. Jack set up his chiropody practice, which name was later changed to podiatry practice, on Blue Lakes Boulevard, where it stayed for twenty years. It was then moved to Ivie Tower on Addison Avenue. Jack was a brilliant doctor, often referred by doctors all over the state. He was an avid direction-giver and he typically got good results by enlisting his patients to give themselves good care between visits. His patients loved him for the good results and may have grown exasperated with his over-zealous directions. Jack and Donna divorced April 17, 1959. Janet was five and Carole Lynn was four. He married Joyce Evelyn Truax in 1962 and adopted her toddler son Richard Lyle, born October 2, 1960. Jack and Joyce settled in at 1836 San LaRue Avenue, Twin Falls, where they lived for twenty-eight years. Jack's loves were hunting, camping, water-skiing, golf, fishing and snow skiing. He took immense pride in teaching his children these hobbies during summer visits with his daughters. Jack and Joyce divorced 1990, and Jack moved to a trailer court in Filer, Idaho. The trailer court lifestyle seemed to fit him fine. He had all the space he needed, which was one chair in front of the TV. There were two bedrooms and one bath and a laundry area in the hallway. Yes, there was plenty of space, indeed, for a retired doctor, and he kept it all neat and tidy. He added a large shed that housed his most prized possessions, his sporting equipment. There was a large shade tree which provided ample visiting space if the living room became too crowded. During those twenty or so years in the trailer court, a dear friend Sarah helped take care of Jack, for which the family is eternally grateful. Jack was taken to the hospital on Sunday, August 24 and passed away peacefully at St. Luke's Hospital in Boise on Saturday, August 30. Jack is survived by (Janet's family) Janet (Joe) Siepert in Rexburg, Idaho; her children Jared Siepert (Boise), Chris and Jill Siepert and two children (Boise), Nicole and Dilip Shreshka (Rexburg), Josh and Jennifer Siepert and one child (Boise), Cari's family consists of: Cari Rymer, Orem Utah. Divorced from Ray Trotter in 1993; widowed from Carl Rymer in 2007. Annie and Daken Allred and six children (American Fork, Utah); Jennifer and Christopher Finnegan and five children in St. George, Utah; Michael and Jen Trotter and four children (Provo, Utah), David Trotter and two large dogs, (Paskenta, California); Jordan and Misty Trotter and one child (Orem, Utah). Rick's family consists of: Rick and Donna Ballard (Bellevue, Washington); Lyndi Yankey (Marina Del Rey, California), Justin and Rhia Yankey and two children (Meridian, Idaho). He is preceded in death by his grandson Jordan Siepert.