John Marion Pontius

Beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and well-known LDS author and speaker John Marion Pontius, 60, died Dec. 10, 2012, in his home after a lifetime of service to the Lord Jesus Christ.

He was born on May 12, 1952, in Moscow, Idaho, to wonderful parents, Robert V. and Ann Pontius. Since he was a little boy, all John desired was to serve the Lord in whatever capacity he was called. He served an LDS mission to South Africa and returned home to Brigham Young University, where he married Kathy Ferguson. They had four beautiful children: Matt, Ben, Bonnie and Lisa. They later divorced. John loved living in Alaska for nearly 35 years.

He married Terri Jeanne Muhlestein and sealed four more beautiful children into his eternal family: Alicia, Jason, Stephen and Jessica. He loved his precious family with a pure and abiding love. They were each his treasure.

John had the sweet and humbling gift of writing with the pen of angels. The Lord gave him an ability uniquely his to express the gospel of Jesus Christ in a simple, yet magnificently beautiful, way. Throughout his life he touched many thousands of lives through his published books, firesides and blog (Unblog My Soul).

In addition, John’s passions included music, playing piano and organ masterfully since a young boy, oil painting, woodworking, conducting choral and orchestra (his favorite being the Mat-Su community “Messiah,” which he did for many years), Christmas and anything that captivated his mechanical and technical genius.

Surviving are his wife, Terri Pontius of Saratoga Springs, Utah; son, J. Matthew Pontius (Corinne) of American Fork, Utah; son, Benjamin Joseph Pontius (Rainee) of Kenai; daughter, Bonnie Pontius Donigan (Patrick) of Somerville, Mass.; daughter, Lisa Pontius Fennell (Jake) of Wasilla; daughter, Alicia Keller (Jake) of Parker, Colo.; son, Jason Espersen (Amanda) of Spring, Texas; son, Stephen Espersen (Christie) of Saratoga Springs, Utah; and daughter, Jessica Elizabeth Pontius, of Saratoga Springs, Utah.

Funeral services are at 2 p.m. Dec. 15 in the Saratoga Springs Stake Center, 587 South Saratoga Springs Road, Saratoga Springs, Utah. A viewing is Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Warenski Funeral Home, 1776 North 900 East, American Fork, Utah and also on Saturday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. prior to services. Interment follows at the American Fork Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent to the family at warenski.com.