John Thomas Dewan

Longtime Wasilla resident John Thomas Dewan, 81, died May 7, 2011, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer.

A memorial service is at noon, Tuesday, May 17, at Valley Funeral Home, 151 East Herning Ave., Wasilla. Pastor Paul Riley will officiate and Boyd Connolly will deliver John’s eulogy. Graveside services follow the services at Aurora Cemetery.

Pallbearers include Jason, Mike and Steve Dewan, Robert Clark, Wayne Oxford, Dan Cramer, Jeff Culling and Wayne Johnson. After the graveside service, a memorial potluck follows at the Elk’s Lodge in Palmer.

John was born Nov. 4, 1929, one of five children born to Alfred Michael and Janice Elaine (Connolly) Dewan in North Dakota. He entered into the U.S. Air Force in 1948 and served our nation during the Korean Conflict. He retired in 1968 after 20 years of service as a master sergeant.

John first came to Alaska to work at Captain Cook Hotel and later he went to work for Marathon Oil Co. as a mechanic where he worked for many years. In the mid 1970s he and his wife, Helen, started a home delivery contract for the U.S. Postal Service. As Wasilla grew, so did their route, which they had until 2000. They delivered mail from Palmer to Talkeetna six days a week. They also had a feed business, 8-D Ranch and Feed Morgan Farm.

“Dad was definitely one of a kind,” his children wrote. “He and mom had six kids of their own, but never had less than a dozen or two kids at the house calling them mom and dad. His passion in life, next to his wife and family, were his horses. He did so much with them from hunting in Talkeetna to herding cows on Kodiak Island. In 1981, he took eight head of registered Morgans to Nome to work for Walt Disney Co. to herd reindeer for the movie ‘Never Cry Wolf.’ He swam the Nome River in the spring with his stallion, Rocket. He started sleigh rides on Wasilla Lake from the Mat-Su Resort to Green Acres. He also started the original Parade of Stallions at Settlers Bay while running that stable. He brought well over 200 horses to the state and raised many here. One year he wintered more than 50 head of horses and always said, ‘They’re all kids’ horses, it just depends on the kids.’

“His friends knew they could just call and he would be there. He believed a man was only as good as his word and a deal could be made with a handshake, and come hell or high water he’d stand by it good or bad. He was a rare breed of person, one all his friends and family were proud to know and love. We’re going to miss you, Dad.”

John was preceded by death his son, John T. Dewan Jr. and his granddaughter, Katie Dewan.

He is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Helen E. Dewan of Wasilla; daughter and son-in-law, Helen E. and Mike Sharon of Ellinsburg, Wash.; daughter and son-in-law, Dorothy and Jeff Borton of Wasilla; son and daughter-in-law, Jason and Barb Dewan of Wasilla; daughter and son-in-law, Janice M. and Robert Clark of Anchorage; son and daughter-in-law, Michael O. and Donna Dewan of Wasilla; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a whole group of kids who called him dad or gramps.

Arrangements were by the Valley Funeral Home in Wasilla.