December 4, 1942 – April 2, 2024
It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved father. He passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family.
He was born in Berkeley, California. At the age of 3 he moved to Nevada County with his parents William R. (Bill) and Esther Shadburne. John was a lifelong resident of Nevada City/Grass Valley and believed Nevada County and the Sierra Nevada’s was God’s country. He attended Mount Saint Mary’s for grammar school and graduated from Nevada Union High school in 1960.
After graduating, he went to work in the woods where he spent the majority of his career outdoors in the timber industry as a lumberjack and in forest management. Later in his career, he switched to management in the aggregate industry.
He loved residing in Nevada County and split his time between home and the Pacific Northwest. He enjoyed the outdoors, exploring, hiking, taking walks, traveling, cycling, which he completed the 200 mile Seattle to Portland (STP) Bicycle Classic, playing golf in his annual tournaments with lifelong friends, and telling stories of his life and past adventures and there were many!
John was a dedicated, proud, and loving father, grandfather, and friend. He was a genuine, strong, hardworking, honest, sometimes ornery, kind hearted, loving, and unwavering human that will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
He was thankful and grateful for the experiences, opportunities, adventures, and blessed life he lived.
John is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Jackie Williams, and his longtime girlfriend Lynda Schiffner.
He is survived by his children John W (Kelly) Shadburne, Erik (Rachel) Shadburne, and Adriane (Bryan) Taylor, his seven grandchildren and one great grandchild.
A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, June 2nd at 1:00pm at the Nevada City Elk’s Lodge.