John Antonio Landa

John Antonio Landa, age 94, of Richfield, Wisconsin, passed away in his home on October 30, 2024. John is survived by the love of his life, Aileen, who he was married to for 72 amazing years; six children; sixteen grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren with another one on the way, and one great-great grandchild.

John was born in Boise, Idaho on July 8, 1930 and grew up in the Basque community of Homedale, Idaho. His life was filled with the wild stories of his upbringing as a first generation American and the son of two immigrants, Tony and Maria Landa. He attended Washington State University and served as President of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. John graduated with a degree in Business Agriculture and then joined the United States Air Force, serving as a pilot from 1953 to 1956. After the Air Force, he followed his dream of becoming a farmer, in Idaho, from 1956 to 1965 and then in Washington from 1965 until 1974. John then went to work for Ore-Ida Foods from 1974 to 1995 and for R.D. Offutt Farms from 1995 to 2008. He knew everything there was to know about potatoes and was inducted into the Wisconsin Potato Hall of Fame in 2010.

John enjoyed fishing, wood-working, gardening, and golfing and stayed active until his death, but his greatest joy was spending time with his family, taking care of his wife and being a mentor to his children and grandchildren.

A celebration of life is planned for April 26, 2025 at Txoko Ona, the Basque Center located in Homedale, Idaho. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John's name to Txoko Ona, located at 333 S, Main Street in Homedale, webpage txokoona.org.

Online condolences may be left on John's Facebook Remembrance Page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568285219198.