John Bruce Shoemaker

HAMILTON - John Bruce Shoemaker aka JB passed away on Tuesday the 5th of Oct 2010. He was the son of the late John V. Shoemaker aka John Oliver Jones and Beryl V. Shoemaker aka B-Whitney Jones.

John Bruce was 48 years old.

His high school years were spent in St. Louis where he graduated from Principia. His collage degree came from the U of Oregon and U of Montana in Missoula. We called him the free spirit of the family. He was an author, an adventurer, an entrepreneur and a most loving son.

His book The Black Hope Horror was published in 1991 by William Morrow and made into a TV movie shortly after.

In 1991 he went over to Prague, Czech Republic as a freelance writer. He and other young Americans were known as YAPS (Young Americans in Prague) JB was one of the first trailblazers. He opened a restaurant, several bars and a deli. In doing so he was able to offer employment and security to ex-Yugoslavs during the harsh 90's as they left their country moving to Prague.

John Bruce had the ability to move people to places they never dreamed they could go and doing things they never believed possible.

He appeared in a documentary with Tom Brokaw, his friends come from all over the world.

When he returned to the valley on this last trip several months ago it was his intention to make Hamilton his permanent home once again.

John Bruce is survived by his mother, B-Whitney Shoemaker/Jones; sister, Jacquelyn Beck and husband Bruce Beck; niece, Autumn Crick and husband Kaehl and their children, Cade and Carissa.