John Eggers
May 28, 1946 ~ September 20, 2011
John Tinkham Eggers, 65, of Gettysburg, died September 20, 2011 at the Gettysburg Memorial Hospital.
A short memorial service was held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, September 24, 2011, at the Waterford at All Saints Chapel in Sioux Falls, SD with Pastor Howard Shane officiating.
John was born May 28, 1946 to Paul and Lois (Tinkham) Eggers at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He graduated from Washington High School in Sioux Falls in 1964 and Augustana College in 1968. He received his Masters in School Administration from the University of South Dakota in 1974.
John was an All-Conference basketball player in high school and college. He was inducted into both the Washington High and Augustana College Hall of Fame. His scoring record of 49 points in a single game still stands at Augustana. His favorite story was beating the University of North Dakota with Phil Jackson in 1967. John’s mom and dad never missed any of his ballgames.
John worked for the Department of Agriculture and as a Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor. However, most of his life was spent in education. He planned and directed the Compass Program, an innovative ‘school-within-a-school’ at Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls. He also taught at the SD State Penitentiary and at public schools in Gettysburg and Eagle Butte SD.
He loved hunting, fishing, playing cards and reading. He had a great sense of humor.
John is survived by one daughter, Kimberly (Jim) Rose and their three sons (Michael, Austin & Jacob) of Weeki Wachee, FL; his mother, Lois Eggers of Sioux Falls; one sister, Cheryl (Paul) Nelson of Gettysburg; and two nephews, Ryan (Carmen) Nelson of Sioux Falls and Erik (Tami) Nelson of Gettysburg.
He was preceded in death by his father.
In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to the charity of your choice.
Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with John’s arrangements.
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John was a one of a kind. Great sense humor and a talented man. I enjoyed his friendship and will miss him. My sympathies to his family.
My deepest sympathy to Cheryl & the rest of John’s family.
Sincerely,
Marcelline Hunnel
My deepest sympathy to all missing him. I was a student in John’s “compass school” and must say it had great impact on my life and thinking.As always I still see him as my advisor. We have lost a great part of us. Would love to talk with again.
John And I became friends while he was at Lincoln High and we continued to cross paths when he visited mutual friends Bob and Joan Conner. I have many memories of John, but most importantly, he made me laugh. He had a unique perspective on life – always peppered with humor.
I am sorry to learn about John’s passing. I only heard about it yesterday from Phil Hegg.
I played basketball with John at Washington High. He had an incredible outside shot for a big guy. Who knows how many points he would have scored in high school and at Augie if there had been a 3-proint shot line at the time!
I also have very fond memories of John on fishing trips to Oahe and while we were in college together. What a fun loving person, with a tremendous sense of humor. He added much joy to my life during those times and I am certain that he contributed much to the lives of all the students who were in his classes. Thanks for the memories, John.
John was someone who had a sizeable impact on my life as well.
I was a student at the “Compass School” 1976 – ’78. As a USD graduate, I came across the notice of his passing while paging thru an alumni publication already a couple months old. Sorry to be so late in offering sympathy to those who loved him.
Many members of the Compass program found John to be an enigmatic individual. I doubt most were aware of his basketball stardom in his own school days. (I did learn of this part of his life from another Compass advisor late in my second year there). Our perception of him was more that of an intellectual.
Mostly I recall his strive to get us to THINK about ourselves and the world, and to follow the direction that would hopefully be the best path for fulfillment in our lives. Hence, the “Compass” concept helped many of us to discover our own way.
While we often found his methods to be exasperating (what 16 – 18 year old wouldn’t?), I will always admire John for encouraging us look at every situation from as many sides as possible.
To those who knew and loved him, my sympathy goes out to you. No doubt the loss of this gentle giant has left a huge empty space.
God bless ya, John. Hope to receive more of your insight when I reach the other side. See you then!
– Bill Loftesness, Lincoln High class of 1978