John Howard Heitstuman, 80, of Fallon, Nevada, and a former long-time resident of Rathdrum, Idaho, went home to be with the Lord on Nov. 10, 2025, after a long battle with Lewy Body Dementia. He passed at home in the presence of family.
John was born May 22, 1945, in Klamath Falls, Ore., to Norman Arthur Mackley and Elma Viola (Land) Clark. He was adopted by his stepfather Victor Heitstuman in 1952 and gained two stepbrothers.
John grew up in Rathdrum, Idaho, graduating from Rathdrum High School in 1963, where he was active in sports. He joined the Navy in 1965, and was on active duty until 1971. He served as an electrician’s mate, first aboard the aircraft carrier USS Bonhomme Richard, and then aboard the destroyer USS John Paul Jones, followed by boots-on-the-ground service in Vietnam. He served 20 years as a reservist.
John met Karen Marie Miller of South San Francisco at a dance. They were married on April 28, 1969, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and raised their family in Rathdrum. John helped establish the Quick Response Unit, which was used until Rathdrum acquired its own ambulance, and served as the mayor of Rathdrum from 1992 to 1994. He was also a junior tackle football coach with the Lakeland School District for ten years.
In 2002, John and Karen Heitstuman moved to Nevada and lived in Fallon. They were members of Gospel Light Baptist Church for 21 years and were active in their church.
John is survived by his wife, Karen; his brothers Bert Heitstuman, of Kasilof, Alaska, Norman Heitstuman and his wife Cherry, of Rathdrum, Idaho, and Dennis Luttrell of Eldon, Mo.; his daughters Kelli Tomko of Fallon, Nev., Kate Dobson of Lewisville, Texas, and Karri Raymond and her husband, Doug Raymond, of Fernley, Nev.; Kat, a daughter in the Lord; grandchildren Caleb Tomko, of Fallon, Nev., Bepe Tomko, of Broomfield, Colo., Jared Tomko, of Scottsdale, Ariz., Emma Dobson, of Lewisville, Texas, Hank and Sam Dobson of Harrisburg, S. D., sisters-in-law, Sandy Eberhard and Pamela Miller, of San Mateo, Cali.; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, two step-brothers, and his only sister, Sylvia.
A celebration of life will be held on a date yet to be determined.
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