Donald Masterson

On July 21st, 2025, Donald “Jack” Masterson passed away peacefully of natural causes at home with his family by his side. He is joyfully reunited with his adored wife Diane, and his son, Jay, in heaven. Jack's beautiful blue eyes, infectious grin and quick laughter endeared him to everyone. A natural storyteller, he was the life of every gathering and was looked up to and admired by his family and friends.

Jack was born in Prairie City, Oregon on June 22, 1932. The youngest child and only son, he was adored by his sisters Barbara, Gloria and Donna Mary. In Jack’s own words, he “grew up in a magical time” in the small town of Vale, Oregon. His close extended family taught him the values of hard work, honesty and the joy of attending potlucks, Saturday movie matinees, rodeos and 4th of July parades. The heroic stories of hometown soldiers in World War II greatly impacted him. Patriotism ran through him to the core.

After receiving his diploma from Vale High School, Jack attended Boise Jr. College and played football under legendary coach, Lyle Smith. He proceeded to earn his business degree at the University of Oregon, supporting himself by working in Alaska's fishing industry. Upon finishing his degree, he joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Fort Carson, Colorado with the Mountain and Cold Weather Training Command. While on leave in Denver, he met the love of his life, a young nurse named Diane Wahlin. They married on August 10, 1957, and were devoted to one another for sixty-eight years.

Jack’s first job out of school was at The Boeing Airplane Company in Seattle. Soon afterwards, an uncle connected him with a start-up company, and taking a risk, he moved his young family to Ontario, Oregon.Thus began a 30-plus year career at Ore-Ida Foods, starting as Ontario Factory Personnel Manager and finishing as Vice President of Human Resources at the headquarters in Boise. He treasured his years with the company and maintained deep friendships with his coworkers.

Jack was an outdoorsman and loved planning family camping, rafting, and backpacking trips into the wilderness, teaching his kids to camp, hunt and fish. He drove his family across the U.S. in a converted Volkswagen van, plotting routes to see as many sites and states as possible, staying in KOAs around the country. In winters, he enjoyed teaching his children to ski, and as they got older, marvelled at their abilities. Each new in-law and grandchild was taught to “get up on the boards”.

Anyone who knew Jack understood that he was a die-hard BSU fan, any sport, anywhere. Jack was a loyal member of the Varsity B club for former BSU athletes. He loved taking part in their activities, which made his love of the Bronco Nation so special. He was an avid fan and he and Diane held football season tickets for over five decades attending games into their late eighties. Although football was his favored sport, Jack supported and attended as many BSU sports events as possible including Basketball (men’s and women’s), wrestling and gymnastics.

Jack never missed a chance to contribute to the Boise community. Among his projects were the Ore-Ida Women's Challenge (a training bike race for many Olympic athletes), the World Center for Birds of Prey, Project Light (cosponsored with BSU, the program focused on the relationship between exercise and depression). He also acted as Ore-Ida's liaison with the Idaho Shakespeare Society in its early years.

Jack published his memoir “Growing Up in Vale”, in 2011 sharing his “Tom Sawyer- like” childhood and the incredible privilege of working for Ore-Ida. It was his way of saying thank you to the wonderful family who raised him and the company that helped make so many of his dreams possible

Jack had a huge heart and a deep love, not only for his immediate family, but for his extended family, his friends, colleagues and his nation. Memorial Days found him tending to the graves of his relatives and attending a potluck with pioneer descendents. He flew his U.S. flag at every opportunity permissible, teaching his grandchildren the “proper” way to fold a flag. Jack believed whole heartedly in the American dream as he was an All-American small town boy who “made good”. Jack was the quintessential good guy: a son, brother, husband, father and grandparent, who took care of all around him. He will be missed.

Jack will be reunited with his beloved wife, Diane and son, Jay (Tanya), his parents and his sisters Barbara and Gloria. He is survived by his sister, Donna Harlan (Rod), daughter, Dana Morfin, sons Bret (Francesca) and Steven, as well as grandchildren Nicholas Waters (Molly), Abby Baker (Josh), Quinn, Harris, Thomas and Laynie Masterson, Jason and Tara Knudsen, as well as great-grandchildren Jonathan and Amos Waters, Aspen and Wren Baker, and Sierra Maddocks (Tristan), and great-great grandson Kelly Maddocks along with an adoring group of nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church on Saturday, September 6 at 11:30 a.m., followed by a reception in the community room. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Masterson-Matuseski Professorship for Psychiatric Nursing through the Boise State University Foundation 208-426-3276. 1173 University Ave. Boise, ID 83825

Arrangements are under the direction of the Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel. Please go to www.aldenwaggoner.com to leave condolences to the family.