JACK ALLEN JOST
April 16, 1938 – June 6, 2022
Jack Allen Jost, beloved husband, father, brother, and grandfather, passed away peacefully at the age of 84 at home surrounded by his loving family. Jack was born in Bakersfield to Jim and Clara Jost (Hillebrand). Jack was a well-known builder for 65 years building hundreds of high quality custom homes in Bakersfield, including large luxury homes in East Hills Estates and Kern Riverfront homes. At 6 ft. 6 inches tall with a beautiful smile, he would light up any room.
As a child and teenager, he grew up in a close family with a large extended family of 58 first cousins and 32 aunts and uncles. His dad, also a building contractor, taught his sons home construction and how to work hard, hunt, fish, and enjoy the outdoors. His mom was a registered nurse who was full of fun and loved her family, her animals, music and square dancing. He often said how lucky he was to have had such wonderful parents. Family vacations included going to lakes for water skiing and fishing or to the coast. Holidays were spent with large family gatherings. As an adult, Jack continued this tradition and loved entertaining his kids and grandkids, friends, sub-contractors and clients at family BBQs.
Jack graduated from East Bakersfield High School in 1956 where he competed in boxing (Silver Glove award). As a teenager Jack hiked the Sierra, fished, and summited Half Dome with his brother and cousin Grant. He was a member of the Debonaire School of Ballroom Dancing and was an excellent dancer. He was known in high school for his cool cars and his fun, likeable nature.
Jack married Bonnie Pierson in 1958 and they had six wonderful kids, 13 grandkids and 10 great grandkids. Bonnie and Jack designed and built their dream home on the Kern River with a pond and pasture for horses, dogs, farm animals, buffalo, and peacocks. The three younger kids would bring home their classmates on field trips to enjoy the farm animals and all that their country home had to offer. They hosted many weddings, parties and Friday BBQs at their home.
Jack got his pilot's license in the 1970s and, in his twin engine plane, flew his family and friends all over the West. His kids remember Jack coaching Jerry's baseball team, being active in Cub Scouts, remodeling the baseball stadium in the 1970's, picking up the younger kids from school and getting Frosty's, riding dune buggies at the beach, camping, fishing, trips to various lakes, water skiing, snow skiing at their cabin and caring for 4H animals.
Jack was a true outdoorsman, enjoying nature, wildlife, camping, hunting, fishing, and gardening, and tending to his animals and country home. In 1983 he married Sharyn Craig and built a home for them overlooking the Kern River. In his later years he enjoyed gardening, family gatherings, their ponies and dogs, and continuing to build custom homes.
He will forever be loved, missed, and remembered for his kindness and generosity. He is survived by his children Jerry (Karen) Jost, Cheri (Ron) Thompson, Jackie Hahn, Judi (John) Newton, Jami (Darren) Graham, Jeff (Helen) Jost, stepson Bryan (Drinnean) Craig, his brother Richard (Karen) Jost and sister Barbara (Earl) Byron, Jack's former spouse Bonnie Jean Tucker, as well as 13 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, 2 nieces and 2 nephews. He was predeceased by his second wife Sharyn Jost, his mother and father Clara and Jim Jost, grandson Wes Hahn, great-grandson Nate Street, and stepson Michael Craig.
Services will be held Saturday, July 9 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 at Hillcrest Memorial, 9101 Kern Canyon Road, followed by graveside service from 9:45 - 10:00 a.m. Please bring masks for indoors.