John Michael Genera

John Micheal Genera was born September 6, 1945 in Pocatello, Idaho to Mary Helen Chacon and Thomas Genera. He was the third of nine children.

He left school in the 5th grade to help support his mom and siblings. He would hang out at the baseball field and wait for games to end so he could collect baseballs and sell them back to the players. He worked for the Union Pacific Railroad and as a firefighter all with just a 5th grade education.

John enlisted in the Army Reserves in 1965. In 1968 he married his first wife Bernice Palfreyman. She had a daughter, Teresa, he would later adopt. They would later have Jay, Tom, and then adopted their 3rd boy, Josh.

In 1969 he went from the reserves to active duty in the U.S. Army. He was lead of a half track and was a tunnel rat, and also CID in Germany. In 1969 he was sent to Vietnam where he served until 1970. He was 1st Squadron, 1st United States Cavalry. He obtained a purple heart and two Bronze Stars with Oak Leaf Clusters. While he was enlisted he received his High School Diploma. He later went onto work for BNR Detective Agency along side his brother, Cliff, FMC, Bingham County Sheriffs Office for two years, then Fort Hall Tribal Police for 17 years.

In 1989 while working for the Fort Hall Police Department, he met his second wife, Amelia Dennis, who was working as a dispatcher. On February 14, 1991 they were married and had their first daughter, Kimberly, a couple months later. Soon to follow were two sons, Chad and Samuel. They later had a Goddaughter named Elizabeth.

John is survived by his wife, Amelia Genera, children, Tom Genera, Jay Genera, Teresa Rhodes, Josh Genera, Kimberly Genera, Chad Genera, Samuel Genera, Elizabeth Quezada, siblings, Carmen Maple, Cliff Lockhart, Emmett Lockhart, Richard Lockhart, 27 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary Helen and Thomas Genera, siblings, Tommy, PeeWee, James, and Dave.

Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, 2026 at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery, 2651 Cromwell Lane, Blackfoot, Idaho 83221. Arrangements are under the direction of Nalder Funeral Home. 

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