John E Bakke III, a proud Texan, longtime area resident and attorney specializing in estate planning and probate law for more than 50 years, entered eternal rest on Wednesday at age 85.

Born in Wichita Falls, Texas, on July 20, 1938, John was the eldest of three boys. His parents, Maria and John E Bakke Jr., and his brothers, George (Judy) Bakke and Sam Bakke, preceded him in death.

John is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Patricia “Pat” Bakke; children John Bakke IV, Phil (Cory) Bakke, Joe (Jessica) Bakke, Liz Bakke Callaway, Shauneen Bakke and Shannon (Mark) Zeman; 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; sister- in-law Debbie Bakke; and cousins Marion Bakke Blount and Isabeth Bakke Hardy.

John earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the State University of Iowa (now known as the University of Iowa) in 1963, served his country as a U.S. Army medic and graduated from St. Mary’s University with a law degree in 1972.

An author and distinguished lecturer on dozens of legal topics, John served as a fellow with the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and the San Antonio Bar Association and as chairman of the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

He was a member of the Texas Cavaliers for 54 years and served as president and board trustee of Hill Country Youth Ranch, the Boerne Area Foundation and chairman of the board of directors of the American Cancer Society for the state of Texas.

John was a kind, compassionate man with a heart of gold and a wry sense of humor. In addition to his professional accomplishments, John’s official curriculum vitae concludes with an extensive list of “additional work experience,” including caddy, club shiner, candling eggs, department store clerk, farm hand, custom picture framer, waiter, oil field roughneck (lead tongs, back-up tongs, motorman, derrick hand), sewing machine repairman, grain bin fumigator and cow-calf producer.

John cherished his Boerne ranch, his Norwegian family history, Louis Lamour novels, golfing, 9-pin bowling at Boerne Turn Verein and championing the causes of those much less fortunate than him.

He truly enjoyed desserts and firmly believed in the three food groups: vanilla, chocolate and strawberry.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Hill Country Youth Ranch at: https://youth-ranch.org/ Ways-to-Give and the Texas Cavaliers Charitable Foundation at: https:// www.texascavaliers.org/ charitable- foundation/ give-a-gift.

Arrangements with Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home & Cemetery. Private graveside service for family members only.