John Robert Williams

John Robert Williams, 62, died of natural causes May 1, 2012, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer.

He was born Nov. 9, 1949 in Cameron, Texas. He attended Queen Anne High School and Shoreline Community College. He was in the Army from April 1968 to March 1971. He was stationed in Germany and went to Vietnam. He was a member of the 101st Airborne.

He moved to Alaska in 1974, where he lived in Anchorage. He moved to Wasilla in 1980. He was in the Army National Guard from 1980 to 1995. He was a supply clerk and then he became a fuel handler at Bryant Army Airfield. He retired from the Army National Guard in 1995. He learned to weld in the Army, earning him the Distinguished Graduate Award.

He was a member of the Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Most recently, his hobbies included watching Westerns and painting wooden models for his grandson. In the past, he enjoyed fishing and running his boat on the Little Susitna River.

John grew up in Texas, Florida and Washington. He moved to Alaska on an impulse and fell in love with the state. John met his wife, Ronna Bognar, at work in 1980. They were married Sept. 26, 1980. Two children were born to this union. Eric was born in 1982 and Julie in 1983. In the last few years, John’s medical issues kept him homebound. Recently, John’s greatest enjoyment was getting his grandson “Baby Grady” to smile. John spent many hours painting wooden toys for Grady. John’s laughter, smile and advice will be missed by his friends and family.

John is survived by his wife of 32 years, Ronna; son, Eric; daughter, Julie Williams; mother; Iva Jeanne Chew Williams; sisters, Nancy and Brent Hardin, Susan and Richard Locke, and Sheila and Larry Carriveau; brother, David and Anita Williams; and grandson, Grady Charon.

Services are at 11 a.m., May 8 at the Colony building of the LDS Church (across from Colony High School). Viewing is at 10 a.m. Bishop Jimmy LaVoie will officiate. Interment will be held at 1:30 p.m., May 8 at Fort Richardson National Cemetery.

The family was taken care of by Legacy Kehl’s Palmer Chapel in Palmer.