Ivan Haskell English, Jr.

It is with great sadness that the family of Ivan Haskell English, Jr. announce his passing. 

Ivan was born in Princeton, Indiana on June 6, 1935.  He reached the amazing age of 90 years old.  Ivan passed away on September 2, 2025, in Tucson, Arizona. 

 

He is survived by his children, Stephen (Marifi), Stephanie (David Dummeyer) and Brian; his daughter-in-law, Mary English; his grandchildren, Emily Perkins-Ollila (Justin), Julia English, Michelle English, Matthew English, Sophia English and Makayla English; his great-grandson, Atlas Perkins-Ollila; his sisters Kay Street, Judy Paltridge (Bill), Mary Baer, Margery Metzler (David), and 5 nieces and 4 nephews. 

 

He was preceded in death by his son, Mark Edward English; his parents, Macil Larson and Ivan H. English, Sr. and stepfather, Edward Larson; his brothers-in-law, Larry Street and Bruce Baer; and longtime significant other and best friend, Hope Nunez. 

 

Ivan began his life in Indiana and moved briefly to Wichita, Kansas.  The family eventually ended up in Calexico, California.  During his teen years at Calexico High School, he excelled both academically and in sports, playing varsity baseball for three years and being elected his Senior Year to the Student Body as Treasurer.  He also was Treasurer for the Imperial Valley Student Council. 

 

Throughout junior high school, high school and college, he developed his outstanding work ethic starting with summer jobs from mowing the lawn for a teacher to working at a local movie theater, soda fountain and hardware store to working for the Imperial Valley Irrigation District and Calexico Water Plant as a college student.  While he was studying engineering at UCLA, he went to work as a draftsman at Douglas Aircraft and at Litton Industries.  Upon graduating from UCLA, he was hired by Hughes Aircraft Company where he started out as a member of the technical staff and eventually advancing to Assistant Laboratory Manager until he retired after 30 years with the company. 

 

Before graduating college, he married Carol Hershey whom he met through the Methodist Wesley Group at UCLA.  He and Carol had four children and settled down in Canoga Park, CA.  In 1971, Hughes Aircraft Company transferred Ivan and the family to Tucson, Arizona where he would reside for the remainder of his life.   He was active with his children and his grandchildren throughout their lives going to their sporting events, concerts, attending school/church events, and graduations. 

 

Throughout his life, he was actively involved in his community.  With the Wesley Foundation, he helped build a social hall for a church in Ramona, CA.  Prior to having kids, he was drafted into the Air Force Reserve for a brief enlistment and was honorably discharged but never considered himself a veteran.  He was involved as a leader with Indian Guides in California and Cub Scouts in Tucson and as a manager/coach with Little League Baseball in Arizona with his children.  He was on the Board of many organizations including Canoga Park Methodist Church, Pantano Little League, Eastside Pony League (founding member), Southern Arizona Transportation Museum, Gadsen Pacific Division Toy Train Operating Museum, Train Collectors Association-Desert Division, and Academy of Tucson Schools. 

 

If you knew Ivan, you know that Ivan loved trains.  When he retired, he wanted a stress-free hobby.  So, he joined the Gadsden Pacific Toy Train group, started collecting Lionel trains and soon was helping to construct layouts and participated on its Board.  That led to him joining the Train Collectors Association which met in Phoenix.  He loved traveling around the US going to toy train conventions and meeting fellow train enthusiasts while adding to his ever-growing collection of toy trains.  He also got involved in the restoration of the historic locomotive 1673 that was installed at the historic Southern Pacific depot in downtown Tucson.  Although he had not been able to get over to the museum lately, trains remained his passion. 

 

Funeral services will be held on Saturday September 13, 2025, at 12pm at Brings Broadway Chapel, 6910 East Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85710. 

 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his name to the Gadsden Pacific Toy Train Operating Museum (gadsdenpacific.org).