John McNaney
John Martin McNaney was born April 2, 1966, in Dickinson N.D. and passed away on Feb. 27, 2022, in Livermore, Calif., at the age of 55. He was the youngest of 4 children of Martin and Sallie McNaney. He was raised on a ranch west of Grassy Butte, N.D. and attended elementary school at Grassy Butte Grade School. John attended Watford City High School, graduating in 1984, and competed on the Watford City Wolves wrestling team. After high school, John worked as a Roustabout in the oil fields of Western North Dakota while also working on the family ranch. He moved to Edmond, Okla., where his sister, Mary and her husband lived. John managed a boarding stable for several years training horses and was involved in team roping events in the area.
John moved to Watsonville, Calif., in 1989 where he started his commercial plumbing business after the 1989 San Francisco earthquake. He was hauling horses down the freeway during the quake and thought the horses were just moving in the trailer until he saw all the cars pulled over on the side of highway. After the quake, he obtained his contractor license fixing gas and water lines, and major plumbing repairs. During this time John made his mark in the community training horses, roping, and working cattle.
John moved to Livermore in 1993, where he met Pam Reid. John and Pam were married in June of 1995. They raised three boys together - Lane, Cody, and Dillon. Their boys quickly followed in John’s footsteps by helping him in the construction field, competing in wrestling tournaments, ropings, rodeos and training horses. John raised them with the same work ethic and kind heart as he did and strived to provide them with all the tools and opportunities to grow into the men he was so proud of. He was a man that was ready to help at the drop of a hat - respectful, humorous, tough, yet gentle. He held jackpot ropings and clinics of all kinds at the ranch, became a stock contractor for Jr. Rodeos, bought a feed store, and lived his life honorably.
Many of us knew John as the hard-working and selfless individual that he was. But those closest to him, knew him most for the amazing family man he was. We will remember John as the husband, father, horseman, brother, and cowboy that he was.
John is survived by his wife, Pam; three sons, Lane McNaney of Livermore, Calif., Cody McNaney and his wife, Erica and son, Cade of Oakdale, Calif, Dillion McNaney of Livermore, Calif.; sisters, Mary Yount of Edmond, Okla., Margaret Fabrizius of Roseburg, Ore.; brother, Charlie McNaney of Grassy Butte, N.D.; and several nephews and nieces in Oklahoma, Oregon, North Dakota, and California. John was preceded in death by parents, Martin and Sallie McNaney; and infant son, Marshall McNaney.
A private family service will be held on March 17 and a Celebration of Life will be held on March 19 at the Inderbitzen Ranch in Livermore, Calif., beginning at 12 p.m. If you wish to make a donation please donate to your favorite charity in John McNaney’s name.