Jay Brad Buehler

In loving memory of Jay Brad Buehler, a devoted husband, son, brother, and uncle who passed away unexpectedly from natural causes on May 17, 2025 in Boise, Idaho at the age of 68.

Brad was born on April 16, 1957 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise, Idaho to Robert J. and Louise (Bingham) Buehler. He attended McKinley Elementary, West Junior High School, and graduated from Borah High School in 1975. During his high school and college years, Brad’s first employer was Northwest Heating and Air Conditioning. For a short period, he was employed by Kentucky Fried Chicken on Overland Road and a landscaping company.

Brad entered Boise State University on August 29, 1975 with a Department of Geology academic scholarship with an emphasis in engineering, mathematics, and physics. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology, on August 17, 1979. On November 7, 1979 Brad was admitted to graduate school in secondary education with an emphasis in Earth Science at Boise State University. During his last semester at Boise State, his geology career began with the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Design and Construction, Geology Branch, Pacific Northwest Region in Boise, Idaho. He performed engineering geology investigations for the feasibility design, construction, operation and maintenance of dams, power plants, canals, and pipelines. This included writing final geologic reports, compiling supporting maps, sections, test pits, drill logs and other engineering data. As a U.S. Bureau of Reclamation dive team member, Brad performed underwater inspections of erosional problems in spillway stilling basins, outlet conduits, and other submerged appurtenant structures.

Brad’s first project with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation was Project Geologist to the Island Park Dam, assisting design and construction engineers in the inspection, analysis and documentation of geologic aspects during the rehabilitation of the spillway and outlet works. Brad wrote the Final Construction Geology Report and served as Construction Inspector during the drilling and grouting of the spillway foundation, the demolition of the deteriorated structure, and the replacement of new concrete structures. He received the U.S. Department of the Interior special achievement award for recognition of his significant contribution to the mapping and documentation of the foundation geology.

As Staff Geologist on Jackson Lake Dam, Wyoming, Brad worked through the entire design and construction process with engineers in the collection and analysis of design data for the modifications of the dam. This included planning, developing, and implementing drilling programs. He supervised drill crew, logged recovered soil samples, and core rock to determine its engineering character and quality. He co-authored the Final Design Geology Report and wrote the Final Borrow Materials Report. Brad received the U.S. Department of the Interior group special achievement award for recognition of his significant contribution to the geotechnical design and specifications required for Jackson Lake Dam.

He conducted engineering geology explorations for Safety of Dams (SOD) and Safety Evaluation of Existing Dams (SEED) studies and analyses. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation projects he worked on included Island Park Dam, Idaho (Project Geologist); Tieton Dam and Bumping Lake Dam, Washington (Geologist); Warm Springs Dam and Anderson Ranch Dam, Idaho (Project Geologist); Jackson Lake Dam, Wyoming (Staff Geologist); Minidoka Dam, Idaho (Project Geologist); A.R. Bowman, Crooked River Project, Oregon (Project Geologist); Scoggins Dam, Tualatin Project, Oregon (Project Geologist); McDonald Dam, Montana (Project Geologist); Owyhee Dam, Oregon (Project Geologist); Tualatin Project, Oregon (Project Geologist).

Brad received multiple Special Achievement Awards, Performance Awards and Letters of Excellent Performance for his significant contributions to the U.S. Department of the Interior, and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

During his career he was also employed by Terracon Geotechnical Branch (Engineering Geologist); Atlanta Gold Corporation, Idaho (Contract Geologist); Queenstake USA Resources, Inc., Subsidiary of Yukon-Nevada Gold Corporation, Nevada (Senior Hydrogeologist); KS Ware and Associates, Inc., East Branch Dam, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pennsylvania and Boone Dam, TVA, Tennessee (Engineering Geologist); Construction Testing Services, California (Engineering Geologist).

Brad also intermittently worked for Northwest Heating for 50 years in the design, fabrication, installation, operation and maintenance of HVAC mechanical equipment and systems. Brad was a State of Idaho Registered Professional Geologist, State of Idaho HVAC Licensed Journeyman, MSHA: surface and underground mine certified, American Concrete Institute (ACI) Certified Field Testing Technician, Radiation Safety Officer, Troxler Certified and member of Idaho Gold Prospectors Association.

In 1999 Brad started his own company in which he mined, sold and delivered pallets of Idaho sandstone. His first customer was Gerhard Borbonus Landscaping, and his other customers included companies in the Treasure Valley and Sun Valley.

After Brad passed, a note was found in his briefcase where he had written down the following paragraphs to be included in his obituary:

Brad was a true Boisean. Growing up on Randolph Drive, in a home built by my parents (above Borah High School). Living here provided many life pleasures, walking to McKinley Elementary with close friends, kicking and collecting rocks, Boise Boys baseball (chosen to play on the All Star team), Boy Scouts, West Junior High School tennis (placing first in doubles), hunting for pheasants, mallards, geese and fishing for trout on the banks of the world famous Henry’s Fork of the Snake River in Island Park, Idaho with older brothers Bob and Barry.

Having a few close friends along the way, one who lived down the street, introduced me in 1974 to the love of my life, my wife, Roxanne Raber, who’s caring and companionship carried me through most of my adult life. She is and will always be the diamond in my rough.

Brad had also written down how much joy it brought him sharing so many great times with his cherished nieces and nephews as they grew up. He loved participating in activities that included skiing at Bogus Basin, fishing, hunting, swimming, attending Boise Hawks baseball games, wrestling (“Let’s get ready to rumble!”), spending time in McCall, the cabin, and even dressing up as Santa Claus.

Brad valued his strong Christian faith. He grew up attending the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In later years he attended First United Methodist Church, Cathedral of the Rockies.

Having a lifelong love of music led Brad to purchase his first guitar in 1974 from Holsinger’s Music in Boise. In 1979 with a few good friends, Brad helped form a band called Loose Change. Along with his beautiful singing voice, he also played acoustic and electric guitar and was a songwriter.

Relationships were the heart of Brad’s life. A good or bad golf game with close friends and family having countless conversations about life and many laughs together was always a highlight. He relished the time he spent in McCall, boating on Payette Lake, skiing Brundage, camping, stories around the campfire, hot springs under the stars, snowmobiling, the annual 4th of July fireworks, and always looking forward to the delicious breakfast that included sourdough pancakes with cinnamon syrup.

Brad was an avid outdoorsman, taking all the Idaho outdoors had to offer including the high mountains, the wild rivers, fly fishing, the early snowfall, carving through fresh powder at Bogus Basin, the majestic eagles and hawks, the wolves howling at night, jet boating trips, waterskiing and panning for gold. Priceless memories were made on the side of a mountain and in a river. He also enjoyed afternoons at Les Bois Park, crosswords (always done in pen), and whistling as he worked like his grandfather Wilford.

Although his engineering geology career took him to many locations across the nation, his heart lay in Eastern Idaho and more specifically, the family property known as “the family cabin” in Island Park, Idaho. His most beloved times were those suited up in fly fishing gear on Idaho rivers, specifically on Henry’s Fork of the Snake River, where he was always trying to hook that giant rainbow trout. Other activities at the family cabin included floating Box Canyon, fishing on Henry’s Lake, snowmobiling, hunting, trips to Yellowstone National Park, the annual Christmas tree hunt, and relaxing on the deck just a few feet from the river. Across the river from the cabin was a game preserve, where he would often see moose, elk, deer, bobcat, muskrat, river otters, eagles, osprey and pelicans. Harriman State Park was only two miles away, and you could spot trumpeter swan. Memories created at the family cabin were highly treasured by Brad.

Brad will always be remembered for his love and devotion to his family, his friendship, generosity, intellectual curiosity, his strong work ethic, his beautiful green eyes, infectious grin and signature laugh booming across the room. He was tall in stature, humble in character, unassuming, sincere and always ready to help or care for others in the family. If you are eating an oatmeal cookie, ice cream or anything chocolate say, “This one’s for you, Brad.” He loved them too.

Brad wanted his family and friends to remember him by going into the mountains, to feel the scented breeze of the towering pines, go put a line in the river water and enjoy the catch.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Roxanne; his sisters-in-law, Rose Buehler, Janelle Raber (Tate Witherspoon), and Ingrid Raber; his nephews, Ryan Buehler, Charley Buehler, Taylor Dickey, Riley Dickey (Suzanne Schoenhage), Evan Dickey (Brittani); nieces Brandi Carlock (Jeff), Bridget Cole (Travis), Alexandra Witherspoon, Erin Witherspoon; great-nephew Kirk and great-nieces Shawntay, Raquel, Savanna, Sierra, Emrie, Rowan, great-grand nephews and numerous cousins.

Brad was preceded in death by his parents Robert J. and Louise (Bingham) Buehler, older brothers Robert J. Buehler, Jr., and Charles Barry Buehler.

According to Brad’s wishes, interment will be at Dry Creek Cemetery, Boise, Idaho. A graveside service will take place in Spring, 2026. Date and time of the service will be published in the Idaho Press and www.bowmanfuneral.com

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 (NIV)

Memories may be made at www.bowmanfuneral.com