John Hoag Obituary

JOHN A. JACK HOAG John A. "Jack" Hoag, age 93, passed away on the morning of February 16, 2026 to be reunited with his wife, Jeanette Naomi Hoag. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, great- grandfather, baseball player and coach, naval aviator and helicopter captain, banker, community and church leader, minister and friend; above all, Jack was a faithful follower Jesus Christ. Born in the early 1930s in Long Island N.Y. to John and Viola Hoag during the depth of the "Great Depression," the poverty of the era contributed to Jack's life-long work ethic and conservatism. As an enterprising youngster, he resold used golf balls and put together a baseball "little league" before adult-organized youth sports was popular. In 1948 his father passed unexpectedly; to help support he and his mother, the 15-year-old Jack went to work twenty hours a week in a local landscaping retail operation where he labored as a warehouseman, truck driver, and part-time salesclerk. In addition to playing baseball, in his high school years he had a job as a sportswriter for a local newspaper. Exhibiting more persistence than perhaps intellect, after three attempts Jack was finally awarded a coveted Navy ROTC scholarship at the University of Missouri in 1952 and graduated in 1955 with a business statistics degree. He was then commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. In 1956 he was selected for flight training and earned his Navy wings in 1957 flying single engine and multi-engine aircraft, and helicopters. Jack was most proud of making 6 flawless aircraft carrier landings in his SNJ-4 trainer for WWII fighter pilots. In 1957 Jack was assigned to helicopter squadron HMR-161 at Kaneohe Marine Corps Base. It was here in Hawaii that he met his future wife Jeanette Makaio, a former Miss Aloha Hawaii and flight attendant for Hawaiian Airlines. They were married in 1959. Honorably discharged as a USMC Captain, in 1961 he joined Bishop Bank (now First Hawaiian Bank) as a trainee. However, his love for flying continued so he joined the Hawaii Army National Guard as a helicopter squadron captain (1961-1965). In 1964 a drunken driver crashed head on into Jack and Jeanette's car, causing critical injuries to her entire body. Although Jeanette nearly died twice, she survived with her strong will and faith, and through divine providence. A few years later, after careful scripture study and prayer Jack was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Shortly thereafter Jack and Jeanette were sealed for eternity in the church's Laie Hawaii Temple. In 1968 First Hawaiian Bank (FHB) promoted Jack to Hilo Branch Manager and he began to move through the ranks, eventually becoming Island Vice President. Along the way he earned an MBA from the University of Hawaii and graduated with honors from the University of Washington's Pacific Coast Banking School. In the 1970s, Jack was instrumental in helping put together a loan to help keep the Big Island sugar industry viable, and he helped form a non-profit foundation that provides needed housing for low to moderate income renters - still in operation today. In 1982 Jack was promoted to Executive Vice-President at FHB and became President in 1989, serving alongside Chairman Walter Dods for 6 years. After retirement in 1995 he remained a member of its board of directors until 2017, making 57 years in the FHB 'Ohana. Jack also served on many community and corporate boards including HMSA, UH Board of Regents, Adventist Health Castle, Kapiolani Health, and Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii. Jack's lifetime of service in the Church of Jesus Christ included callings as a bishop, stake president, and area public affairs director. Associated volunteer work included serving on the board of the Polynesian Cultural Center, and as Chairman of the Board & President of Hawaii Reserves, Inc. Jack was highly respected and relied upon by the church's First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve to take on significant and unique assignments. Although he held high positions of trust, Jack continued to minister in less visible, ordinary ways, and he was loved by many for the light-hearted and unassuming way that he served. Perhaps Jack's most meaningful service came as he tenderly cared for his beloved wife, Jeanette, in her final years of declining health and capacity; she predeceased him by 8 years in 2018. Jack is survived by his three children: Steve Kealiiwahamana Hoag (Heather), Vanessa Keahiuilani, and Kananimauloa Horito (Michael), 14 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Services will be held on Thursday, March 19, 2026 at the Honolulu Hawaii Stake Tabernacle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1560 South Beretania Street in Honolulu: closed casket viewing 9 - 10:45 a.m., funeral service 11:00 a.m., light lunch afterwards. Borthwick Mortuary assisting, private burial services held later that afternoon.