Jon M. Delvalle

Jon Michele Delvalle (Mich) born January 4, 1958, 5th of 7 children to Louis and Elizabeth Delvalle.  Jon was born in Castro Valley, California and spent his early childhood enjoying cub/boy scouts, riding bikes and backyard boxing matches in Hayward, California.  Jon moved with his newly single mother and four siblings to Wimer, Oregon when he was 10 years old.  Wimer is where Jon became the man he was destined to be.  At this very early and tender age, Jon fell in love with the land and out of necessity he began hunting grey squirrel, quail, pheasant, deer, bear, elk and he learned to spear frogs, and catch fish to feed his family.  Jon was thoroughly in his element, and he seemed to internalize at this very young age a responsibility as provider and protector of his family which remained deeply ingrained in him all of his days.  During Jon’s high school years, he enjoyed country music, playing pool with his friends and Saturday night poker games.  Jon’s first vehicle was a cool red jeep which he actually drove/crashed into the house after what he claimed was brake failure.  Every summer Jon could be found fighting wildfires as a volunteer.  Jon volunteered for service in the army right out of high school.  Even at this point in Jon’s life he could be described as patriotic, brave, leader, fearless and strong; one of the good guys.

 Jon met his wife of 44 years, Judy, in California. They married and welcomed the birth of their son Aaron. A year later they moved to Wimer, Oregon. This is where the two built their family and welcomed the birth of their daughter Stephany.  The family grew a garden, built their first home and raised hound dogs.  Jon volunteered at the Evans Valley Fire Department then served as Fire Chief. Jon was chief of the department at the young age of 26. During those years Jon and his family dove into the community with weekend softball games, barbeques, and holiday parades. Jon worked side jobs on top of his chief position to make ends meet. He eagerly worked to remodel homes or cut & sell firewood. They developed lifelong friends and worked hard as a young couple in the 1980's.  

 In 1990 Jon and Judy moved their family to Bend, Oregon. This was an exciting move with hopes of more time with his family and to fish and hunt. Jon started his construction company and began remodeling homes all over Bend. He and Judy enjoyed being in a bowling league, hanging out with friends, and remodeling their own home. With the purchase of property, Jon built a barn, put up a fence, dug a pond, and purchased mules and horses. He was happy to have pack animals and to take his camp deeper into the woods. These animals also allowed him to hunt in more remote areas and use the mules to pack meat out. The family also became good friends with the neighbors enjoying evening cookouts and pinochle. They raised and butchered pigs together annually. Fun times were spent hunting and fishing with his family and friends. With the booming growth in Bend and Jon's strong work ethic, it became clear to him that he wanted a slower pace of life and more time with his family and in the outdoors. Jon and Judy wanted more, and with this began their next adventure.

 In 1995 Jon and Judy moved their family to Garden Valley where they lived together for 26 years. Jon's company, Delvalle Associates, flourished through the years. He was a skilled craftsman and has built or remodeled many homes in Garden Valley. Jon joined Garden Valley Fire Protection District as Fire Chief and led the department for 21 years. As workload and call volume continued to increase he had to close his very successful construction company and focus solely on the department.  Jon continued using his construction skills on the department buildings, with additions to headquarters and new substations in the district. Jon led training on weeknights and weekends, mentoring many. The department volunteers became skilled in swift water rescue, technical rescue, rope rescue, ice rescue, firefighting, emergency medical services, and much more. They became a family at the department, building close friendships, and love for one another. Jon enjoyed rewarding the volunteers and their families with an annual Christmas Party and 4th of July BBQ. Jon built professional relationships all over Boise County, the state of Idaho, and beyond, with other departments, agencies, forest service and law enforcement.  Jon was always the calm in the storm. He responded with professionalism and calmly treated patients.This same professionalism was found while he led the firefighters at incidents or fires. Jon was fully dedicated, carrying out what was best for the community, department, and safety of his firefighters. Jon has left a legacy of sacrifice. His dedication, experience, and love for his community will forever be felt by all that knew him. 

 Jon loved his family with no limits. His family is exceedingly proud of him and the legacy he has left. Jon was so much more to his family than the Fire Chief. To us, he was Jon, Mich, Dad, Papa, Pops, Grandpa, Brother, Uncle, and always our Friend. He had a heart for service and took care of his family. He loved the outdoors, spending time fishing, hunting, and camping whenever the opportunity came. He fostered his love for the outdoors in both his children and grandchildren. He was an extremely hard-working man and could fix anything. Jon loved sleepovers with his grandkids; the look on the kids’ faces on holidays; waking his young son and daughter up to go night swimming after training; building and woodworking; taking his grandkids through the station and on the trucks; playing Rummy with his kids and later his grandkids; running hounds at night with his young son; putting meat on his smoker & cooking anything on the grill; his hounds and labrador retrievers; bird hunting with his son and later grandsons and lab; Mexican food at Sonora's; growing a garden that always produced well; whipped cream from the can; whitetail deer hunting with his daughter and grandsons out of Riggins; turkey and bear hunting with his grandsons; elk hunting with his son, son in-law, daughter, and grandsons; watching his granddaughter and grandson at the rodeos; all of his family near and far; Chinese food; sledding with his grandkids; 4 wheeler rides with his young grandsons; fishing at Deadwood with family; and popsicles any time of the year. His family will forever miss him, he was our's, and he was everything to us. 

 Jon is preceded in death by his mother, Elizabeth Coots, Stepfather David Coots, and his father Louis Peon Delvalle. Jon is survived by his wife, Judy; son, Aaron (Tessa); daughter, Stephany Corn (Scott); grandchildren, Trayson, Trevor, Alyanna, and Lane; sisters, Cheri, Paulette, Giselle, Oriana, and Simone; brother, Luis Delvalle; and his many nieces and nephews.

The procession will begin at 3:00 pm, with Memorial Services starting at 4:00 pm on October 2, 2021, at Weilmunster Park in Garden Valley. Additional information can be found at www.potterchapel.com or Potter Funeral Chapel 208-365-4491.

Those who wish may make donations to www.gofundme.com, or  Fundraiser at Loose Screw Beer Co. or a memorial account has been set up at Mt. America Credit Union, titled The Jon Devalle Memorial Account.

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