John L. Poole

John was born in Denver, CO on March 25, 1947 to Lawrence Brandow and Ann Marie (Dunich) Brandow, (later Romes). He was adopted from a Denver orphanage on November 14, 1951 by Henry H. and Esther E. Poole. He grew up in Edgewater, CO and graduated in 1965 from Jefferson County High School, where he starred in “Show Boat” and “Brigadoon.” He earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1969. He met both his wife, Susan, and his Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, while at CU. His master’s degree in History was awarded by Eastern Washington University, 1976.

John was sworn into the United States Air Force in the summer of 1969 and married Susi on January 16, 1970. He deployed for a yearlong tour in Vietnam on the 4th of July that year. His assignment there was primarily teaching English to Vietnamese pilots and diplomatic personnel at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon. Following his return to the States in 1971, he was assigned to Fairchild AFB, WA where their two children were born – Coryn Meredith, 1973 and Taylor Justin, 1976.

John’s Air Force career was spent researching, writing and teaching History and Total Quality Assurance during assignments at Eielson AFB, Alaska; Nellis AFB, Nevada; The Simpson Research Center at Maxwell AFB, Alabama; the United States Air Force Academy, CO and Scott AFB, Illinois. His family enjoyed a tour in Germany (1988 – 1991) where he was attached to the three fighter squadrons of Hahn AB, served as the commander’s executive officer and was Section Commander of the 50th Supply Squadron during Operation Desert Storm. John would tell you the favorite assignment of his 24-year career was teaching cadets for five years in the AFA’s Department of History. He retired with the rank of major from Scott AFB, IL in December of 1993.

After two jobs for military contractors, John was hired by Disneyland as Quality Assurance Manager – Facilities. Following working for the Mouse, he returned to his first love of teaching at three Orange County, CA schools – Orange Coast College, Golden West College and Vanguard University. When he retired from his second career in 2010, he was celebrated by friends and family for teaching at 12 different colleges and universities over the years.

Led to a church or base chapel at each of his assignments, John served as a home group host, leader of Bible studies and teacher of Sunday School for groups of middle schoolers through adults. He also held leadership positions as parish council member, prayer team leader and church elder.

John was diagnosed with an unnamed neurological condition in 1990, which was finally determined to be Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis in 2009. Related symptoms of Dementia began in 2010. Though confined to a wheelchair from 2007 on, John’s enduring faith empowered him to retain his attitude of gratitude, marvelous sense of humor and reputation of being an encourager of students, friends and family.

He received amazing care from home caregiver Liz Zuniga and the Spinal Cord Injury/Disease Clinic at the VA Medical Center, Long Beach, CA under its director, Dr. Hung Nguyen, beginning in 2006. John was blessed with admission to SCI’s beautiful 12-unit long-term care facility on February 16, 2018. He and his family are so grateful for the professional and empathetic care he received from the doctors, the nurses, assistants, physical therapists, occupational therapists, recreation therapists and other staff. They also greatly appreciate the spiritual support of the on-site VA chapel where John & Susi worshiped together until March 2020, when visitors were prohibited from entering the medical center due to COVID19. Chaplains George Vogel and Michael Jones were truly pastors to the congregation there.

In October of 2020, John was preceded in death by his blood brother, Glenn E. Brandow. The two were reunited through Glenn’s efforts in 1986, just after their sister Elizabeth “Betty” Jane (Brandow) Hougham passed away.

John is survived by his wife of 50 years, Susan J. (Taylor) Poole; daughter, Coryn M. Berkbigler (Paul); son, Taylor J. Poole (JenniferJoy) and dear grandson, Dylan Jason Poole.

Some of his favorite words to live by are from 2 Corinthians 4:16-18:

We do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

A Homegoing Celebration will be held at Voyagers Bible Church, 6000 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine, CA 92618 on Saturday, July 31, 2021, 2:00 pm.