John Ernest Kubitschek passed over on Aug. 12, 2023, at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital. He had just turned 75.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date at the Nevada County Horsemen’s Lodge.
John was born on Aug. 7, 1948, in Martinez, CA to Nancy and Hans Kubitschek. He graduated from Humboldt State University in 1975, with a B.S. degree, Magna Cum Laude, in Civil Engineering, with a minor in Geology.
He married Martha Kathryn New in 1974, and they were blessed with 48+ years of marriage until his recent passing. They had three sons, and a foster daughter.
John was a U.S. Navy Veterans who had been deployed to Vietnam on the USS Long Beach.
After John graduated, he worked doing soil testing for a geology firm in Humboldt Co. He and Martha then moved to Nevada City in 1977, where he worked as an engineer for Beale Air Force Base. In 2009 he got his dream job as a civil engineer for Tahoe National Forest. John spent his workdays in the beautiful and majestic TNF and learned to know it better than most. He received many awards for outstanding service during his years with The Tahoe. John was able to retire early from TNF with his military-time added in. In 2008, he and Martha formed their own corporation: Greenspace Design, Construction & Consultation. John contracted back to Tahoe National Forest as a consultant engineer and helped plan/establish their innovative green complex in Truckee, CA.
John was a musician in his spare time. He and Martha were members of the RKX Band and later, the Off the Grid Band.
He was a member of the Nevada County Horsemen, Inc. and volunteered his time and effort to improving the facilities there.
He loved old movies, particularly silent Harold Lloyd, Laurel & Hardy, the Three Stooges, westerns and mysteries.
John was an all-round fix-it-fox and could do just about everything. He primarily, but with help from Martha, built their entire house, horse barn, and developed the land. Nevada County inspectors were always happy when they needed to inspect anything John had his hand in. He was a great day and coached the kid’s baseball teams. To say he will be missed…is an understatement.
John is survived by his wife, Martha; his sons, Hans, John Paul and Matt; his daughter, Seraphina (Sarah); and son-to-be daughter-in-law, Wanawan.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Hans and Nancy Kubitschek.
Arrangements are under the direction of Hooper & Weaver Mortuary.
