John Barbour Egert

1945-2023

John Barbour Egert, sensei of the Albuquerque Bonsai Club, passed away on April 27, 2023, at age 78. Born an only child in Manhattan, Kansas to Ella Zeckser and George O. Egert on March 1, 1945,

John was regarded by many as the genuine article, and larger than life. John went to Pasadena High School in California and UCLA and UC Berkeley in his college years, actively involved in the tumult of the 1960s. It was in Los Angeles that he found the world of bonsai through the Komai family, and a lifelong passion was born. He worked with the migrant workers of Western Kansas, honoring his family’s tradition, before working as the superintendent of natural gas in Las Vegas, New Mexico, and later becoming the airport director.

In 1990, he, Ellen, and George moved from Las Vegas to Wamego, Kansas, where he was elected to the city commission and later became mayor. The Egertsii left Kansas in 1998 and moved to Ruidoso, New Mexico, where he received his real estate license and lived in a state of retirement. After moving to Socorro, New Mexico, he discovered the Albuquerque Bonsai Club in 2007 and became extremely active in helping teach students the Asian art.

He is survived by his life partner, Ellen Rippel, and children Merri Johnson (Gregory), Richard Hodson, Kathryn Hodson, Margaret Lionetti (Rusty), Edmund Mills (Pamela), and George Komai Egert. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

He had a beautiful singing voice, and his love for figure painting and model trains was unrivaled. Friends and family will want to know that John lived and died on his terms, and departed peacefully. He was a friend of Bill W, and passed sober.

Arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Belen Chapel, 418 W. Reinken Ave., (505)864-4448, where an online guest register is available at www.noblin.com.