John G. Fagen

John G. Fagen (“Johnny Earthquake”) was born August 24, 1959, in Bend, Oregon, to John and Marian Fagen. He was the youngest of five children, with his oldest sibling, Nik, 18 years older, and his closest sibling, Susie, eight years older. Between Nik and Susie were his brothers Harry and Donnie. And that is where the normal obituary ends. John was a force of nature, full of endless energy, mischief, and an unrelenting obsession with adventure. He had a way of turning ordinary moments into stories, and stories into legends. He was goofy, wildly creative, and constantly pulling people into something unexpected, whether they were ready or not. At a young age, he moved to the Tri-Cities, WA, where his adventures began alongside nieces and a nephew close to his age. His brother Nik became like a second father, supporting  John  in motocross nearly every weekend. John started in Catholic elementary school, but his boundless energy quickly proved too much for the nuns, and he transitioned to public school. He faced bullying and got into a few scraps along the way. Then the junior high wrestling coach, Mr. Cruzin, saw something in him and offered a different path: “a fight with rules.” From that moment on, John found his calling. He finished his senior year as runner-up in the Washington State Wrestling Tournament. In high school, John built friendships across schools and communities, bringing people together in a way few could. He was often at the center of both unforgettable fun and questionable decisions, but more than that, he had a gift for pulling people out of themselves and into something bigger. He pushed people, sometimes to their limit, but almost always into growth, laughter, or a story they would tell for the rest of their lives. After graduation, he wrestled at Columbia Basin Community College, where both his love for the sport and his larger-than-life personality continued to grow. He believed it was his responsibility to make sure every wrestler felt part of something meaningful, and to make sure they were having a good time doing it. After two years, he was recruited to wrestle at Colorado State University, where he continued to sharpen both his skills and his reputation. When the wrestling program was dropped, John returned to Bend to work in logging with his family. True to form, he chose one of the most intense roles, setting chokers, and survived a serious accident when he was run over by a log, crushing his ankle and requiring multiple pins. During recovery, a new opportunity arose: his nephew Travis was being recruited to Pacific University, and when Coach Clock learned John still had eligibility, he convinced him to join the team. At Pacific University, something shifted. Though never particularly drawn to academics before, John began to excel in higher-level coursework and, once he decided to cut the cast off his ankle himself, returned 110% to wrestling. Halfway through that first year, he met his soulmate, Patti. Before they even began dating, he told a friend he was going to marry her, and he was right. Patti knew of John’s reputation before she met him, and luckily she just so happened to be looking for adventure, and a good swing dancer. They were married on August 20, 1988.  After earning his Bachelor’s degree in Education, John and Patti moved to Seattle, where he managed a Romio’s restaurant and coached wrestling at Shoreline High School. When their first child, Talitha Rose, was born, John chose to leave the city behind. The family relocated to Fruitland, Idaho, Patti’s hometown. There, against the odds, and perhaps with a little help from his father-in-law’s reputation, John was hired as a health and PE teacher at Fruitland High School, as well as a wrestling, track, and football coach. He built their home with the help of friends and family, welcomed two more children, Nikolas Perry and Jonathon Crag, and set out to explore every possible adventure Idaho had to offer. He tried scuba diving in Idaho’s rivers after years diving in Puget Sound, only to discover mostly sticks and mud, so naturally, he moved on. Idaho became his playground. He dove into rock climbing and mountaineering, bringing along both willing companions and those he “strongly encouraged” to join. He became known for nighttime climbs by headlamp. Eventually, he found his lifelong passion in whitewater kayaking, a pursuit he continued until his final days, including a family trip down the scenic Payette River just last summer. John didn’t just seek adventure, he created it. He had a rare ability to see something in people before they saw it in themselves. He would push, challenge, and sometimes drive people to their breaking point, but somehow he knew that’s where the growth lived. People didn’t just spend time with John, they were changed by him. Just as he could watch a wrestler and instinctively know what moves would suit them best, he moved through life with that same intuition, reading people, encouraging them, and helping bring out their strongest, truest selves. The only thing John loved more than adventure was his family. He was deeply proud of his children, Talitha, Nikolas, and Jonathon, and found great joy in coaching them, pushing them to discover their own strength and resilience. He was especially excited to begin sharing that same spark with his grandson, Koda. John loved fiercely, loudly, and without hesitation. He didn’t hold back, and because of that, neither did the people around him. He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Marian, and his brothers Nik and Donnie. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Patti; his children, Talitha, Nikolas, and Jonathon; his grandson, Koda; his siblings Susie (Mark), Harry (Bev), and sister-in-law Cherri; and countless others who knew him as an uncle, friend, mentor, brother, or surrogate father. John loved them all—unconditionally.  In lieu of  flowers; memorials and donations can be made to the Fruitland Wrestling or Track programs: 501 S. Iowa Ave, Fruitland ID 83619. The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to Ancora Hospice and Happier at Home in Fruitland for their compassionate care. John’s Celebration of life will be April 25th, 2026 at Fruitland High School Gym at 1:00 pm.