MONTROSE — Longtime Montrose resident, John W. King, age 71, passed away on Thursday, June 26, 2008 after a five-month battle with cancer.
John Wasson King Jr. was born Sept. 15, 1936 to parents, John W. Sr. and Dorothy King in Minneapolis. He spent much of his childhood and teenage years in northern Minnesota at the family cabin on the shores of Big Sand Lake where he discovered his calling to the great outdoors. His passionate love of the cry of the loons, the wind on the water, and especially the whispering pines, were his calling to earn a degree in forestry from the University of Minnesota in 1958.
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John was a dedicated, cherished member of St. Mary Catholic Church for more than 41 years. He was also an officer in the Knights of Columbus and proudly served as Director of the Catechumenate program for the new members coming into the church. He also was a lay reader, and published the St. Mary’s Messenger newsletter.
John spent his early “retirement” years working at Wal-Mart in the Electronics Department, and later became a volunteer with Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado. Hospice was very gratifying for John and he made very special friends with the staff and as a caregiver. He was a storyteller who embraced his audience and one’s heart with his tales. John’s dream of a lifetime was to visit the home of his Irish ancestors. At the Port of Cove, he realized that he and his brother Bob were the last of their family to finally come home. The beauty of the rugged coastline, the “soft days” of rain, and the serene green of the Irish hills will be with him forever. The experiences of Galway, Connemara, Cork, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, and the Burren, together with the rustic thatched cottages and ancient stone castles, was truly the highlight of John’s life. John was a person of high integrity and principles. He always strived to convey his love for God, friends, and country. The great outdoors has lost a great friend and advocate, but all of us who remain will continue to benefit from John’s stewardship. He was dedicated to protecting the land and its resources. We all can take comfort that John’s spirit will be watching over us whenever we travel through the wild places he loved and cared for so much. “John, we all miss you terribly, but we know your new address in heaven is perfect for you.” — Your loving family.
John is survived by his loving wife of nearly 50 years, Sue; his brother, Robert (Nancy Geiger) King of Minneapolis; daughters, Mary (Robert) Ancell of Las Vegas, Stephanie (Gary) Stone of Colorado Springs; Linda (Eric) Brownlee of Pasadena, Md.; son, John (Denise) King of Overton, Nev., 10 grandchildren: Ronnie (Sarah) Ancell, Justin, Kendra, and Heather Ancell; Meggan (Ryan) Eglinton, Tyler, and Trevor Stone; Douglas, Joshua, and Kaylee King, and four great-grandchildren: Noah, Dillon, and Garrett Eglinton, and Avenley Ancell.
Visitation for family and friends will be held on Tuesday afternoon, July 1, 2008 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Sunset Mesa Funeral Directors Chapel and continue at 6 p.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church with the vigil service to begin at 7 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday morning, July 2, 2008 at 11 a.m. at the church and a luncheon will follow at Sunset Mesa Funeral Directors. Rite of Committal will be held on Thursday morning, July 3, 2008 at 10 a.m. at Grand View Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made in loving memory of John W. King Jr. to the San Juan Cancer Center, 600 S. 5th St., Montrose, CO 81401; Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado, P.O. Box 1804, Montrose, CO 81402 or to a scholarship fund to assist future Natural Resource students, c/o Sunset Mesa Funeral Directors, 155 Merchant Drive, Montrose, CO 81401.
Visit our Web site, sign the online register and send condolences to John’s family at www.sunsetmesafuneraldirectors.com.
Arrangements are being handled under the direction, care and have been entrusted to Sunset Mesa Funeral Directors, 155 Merchant Drive, Montrose, CO 81401 (970) 240-9870.
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