Fredrick “Fred” Joseph John, 94, died April 30, 2023, in Ketchikan.
He was born on Sept. 15, 1928, in Ketchikan.
He attended the Wrangell Institute Boarding School before he served in the U.S. Army when he was 17 to 20 years of age.
He was married to Lorena John, and then to Joann John.
“He did not have any children, but he had his favorites — Billy Wallace, his nephew, and Kristina Shorey he taught guitar and how to drive,” his family writes. “He loved his many nieces and nephews!”
Mr. John was employed as a truck driver with the Spruce Mill until it closed, and with the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District as a janitor at the Whitecliff School.
He was a member of The Salvation Army and the Chuch of God, and he played guitar for jail ministry for more than 60 years.
He enjoyed teaching guitar, and playing guitar and singing with his wife Joann on the downtown docks, in church, for special occasions and gatherings, and for the jail ministry.
“He brought the word of God to many, including inmates that were brought to the Lord,” his family writes. “He was an amazing man of God.”
Mr. John was preceded in death by his parents, Lily and Joseph Starr; siblings, including Dorothy (William) Wallace; wife, Lorena John; wife, Joann John; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is survived by his brother Richard (Laverne) John; nephews, Richard John Jr. and Joseph (Ren) John; niece, Rhonda (Michael) Ball; other John nieces and nephews; niece, Carol Brown of Washington; nephews, John (Karen) Wallace, Leroy (Winona) Wallace of Ketchikan and Ed Wallace of Palm Springs, California; and other Wallace nieces and nephews.
Mr. John’s remains were cremated, and his ashes will be placed at Bayview Cemetery next to Joann John and Lorena John.
A service is scheduled for 3 p.m. on May 20, 2023, at The Salvation Army.