John was a native son of Oregon, born May 2nd, 1934 in Corvallis, Oregon to his parents Emil “Seib” and Norma. John had two sisters, Jan Seibert McCracken, and Lou Seibert Pappas. He graduated in 1952 from Corvallis High School. John and Barb attended his 70 year high school reunion last year! He loved playing sports and spent his high school summers working in Eastern Oregon harvesting peas.
He graduated from Stanford with a degree in Economics in 1956 and then went to night school at Portland State University to earn his accounting degree. John was a senior partner and tax accountant at the Jarrard, Seibert, and Pollard accounting firm for 45 years. He fully retired from JSP in 2015 (at 80 years old!), and promptly set up his desk in the living room. He continued to do trust work for clients until 2022. John enjoyed managing his investments and continued his daily check of the markets until a week before his death.
John shared his love of the outdoors with his kids: Tom, Karen, Brenda, and Scott (Gordon). They skied, water-skied, and went on camping trips. John owned a boat and taught many, many kids to water-ski. John was passionate about tennis and loved to share his enthusiasm for the sport with his favorite people. One year at Sunriver, he hired a pro to teach his kids to play, and later in life practiced with the grandkids on family vacations.
John met and married Barbara Zeigler Seibert in 2001. John and Barb enjoyed travel, including several trips in their motor home. They visited Australia/New Zealand, Europe (Paris was a favorite of John’s), South America, and the Antarctic. Another favorite was Hawaii, especially the helicopter ride over the volcano. Most recently, John and Barb went Costa Rica in the spring of 2022. He enjoyed crabbing at the Oregon coast and went as recently as last year. Of all his travels, John’s favorite trips were fishing trips to Alaska to reel in salmon and halibut.
John was very active and loved tennis (he played at Sunset Athletic Club and was a member for 48 years, finally hanging up his tennis racket last September, waterskiing, snow skiing, and golf. He also enjoyed bridge and learned to play online during the pandemic. He was very proud of achieving ACBL Life Master. John joined Barb at Cedar Hills United Church of Christ as member five years ago. Among other charities, he supported Boys and Girls Aid, Oregon Food Bank and was on the board of directors as treasurer for the Oregon ALS Association. John and Barb also played round robin bridge for the Boys and Girls Aid for several years.
John had a generous heart and will be greatly missed by his entire family.
He is preceded in death by his parents, sisters and his beloved daughter, Karen. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Zeigler Seibert, his son Tom Seibert (Joan Burns), daughter Brenda Wright Lee (Mark), son Gordon Scott Wright, stepdaughter Erika Zeigler Hammond (David) and stepsons Jeff Zeigler (Sarah) and Stuart Zeigler (Stacey). John is also survived by eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
If you wish, in lieu of flowers, please donate to the Oregon Food Bank or the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation. A celebration of life will be held on March 4, 2023, from 2 – 5pm at Nordic Northwest, Great Hall, 8800 SW Oleson Rd, Portland, OR 97223.
Words from his daughter Brenda:
John Leonard Seibert, age 88, after much planning, decided to embark on a new journey on Sunday, January 29, 2023. He leaves behind his wonderful and very patient wife Barbara, 6 children Tom(Joan), Brenda(Mark), Gordon, Erika(David), Jeff(Sarah), Stewart(Stacy), 12 grandchildren, many great grandchildren/great great grandchildren and his corgi Francesca (Frankie). He is preceded in death by his parents Emil “Seib” and Norma and his beloved and much missed daughter Karen. He loved spending time with his family and he was the children’s beloved Papa John.
John graduated from Corvallis High School and went on to college, one that shall not be named because he despised his time there, and he became a CPA. He met his wife in 2001 and convinced her to marry him by (probably) presenting her with the book 101 Ways To Cook Salmon. Her gift to the marriage was 3 children, numerous grandchildren, her enormous kindness and the ability to make everyone feel welcome.
John worked as an accountant for many years and rose to become a partner at Jarrard, Seibert, Pollard presumably so that he could have a corner office with large windows and a fabulous staff to handle the change from ledgers to computers. He had a passionate hatred for paying taxes and used his boundless energy, almost photographic memory and commitment to charity to avoid them legally at all cost. He supported the Childrens’ Home Society, the Oregon Food Bank and he was treasurer for the Oregon ALS Foundation.
Outside of his job, John enjoyed many things. These include an obsession with fishing (which supported his need to have salmon every day for dinner), skiing, golf, tennis, boating (another term for fishing), crabbing, hunting (he never shot anything but “saw a lot of nice country”), hiking, camping, Paris, travel to Alaska (see previous fishing references) and spending time with his family. He also played bridge at charity events and on the computer during COVID- providing additional competition outside of matching wits with the IRS.
After much consideration, John decided to accept the afterlife’s offer of eternal peace and unlimited seafood on Sunday morning with his wife at his side. Thanks are due to the amazing staff at Touchmark for their caring and commitment.
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