Rev. John Norman Wilson

Rev. John Norman Wilson, 73, of Palmer, Alaska, went home to be with the Lord August 12, 2023, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. Saturday, August 19, 2023, at Farm Loop Christian Center, Palmer, Alaska.

Pastor John was born August 23, 1949, in Dallas, Texas, to Dorothy Josephine March and James Edwards March, the fourth of five children. He was a 1979 graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. He and his family came to Alaska in 1993. Pastor John and Shirley were missionaries to China, Tanzania, Kenya, and India and he was a pastor at Farm Loop Christian Center for 21 years. He had a regular program on KATB 89.3 in Anchorage. One of his favorite scriptures was Matthew 6:33; he devoted his life to preaching the Gospel and helping others know and grow in Christ.

He loved his family, friends, and congregation deeply. He was proud of his children’s and grandchildren’s accomplishments in school, music, theater, sports, and careers. He especially enjoyed watching his son Nathanael’s football and baseball games. John was a talented musician with a sparkling sense of humor. He loved TexMex, Dodgers baseball, and spending time with his buddies and mentees.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley; his children, Kimberly Parsons and husband Jamey of Jefferson, Texas; Laura Wilson of Baltimore, Maryland; Nathanel Wilson of Palmer, Alaska; Holly Mergler Pruzan and husband Jeff of Brooklyn, New York; and Jeff Mergler and wife Marie of Shoreline, Washington; five grandchildren, James Parsons and Andrew Parsons; Elaina Mergler, Chloe Mergler, and Lillian Mergler; brother Jim Wilson and wife Sara of Greenville, Texas; Sam Wilson of Venus, Texas; Dotti Wilson of Carrollton, Texas; Sarah Poole and husband David of Newport News, Virginia; and many nieces and nephews including Christopher Wilson of Carrollton, Texas, and Meredith Wilson of Carrollton, Texas, who were like children to him. He was predeceased by his parents, Dorothy and James Wilson.

Pastor John was interred at Valley Memorial Cemetery in Butte, Alaska. Family will gather in Dallas, Texas, August 23, 2023, to celebrate his life and his home-going. It would have been his seventy-fourth birthday.

The family wishes to thank his medical team at Mat-Su Regional for their excellent and compassionate care as well as Farm Loop Christian Center and the many Christian communities in this region and beyond for their kindness, support, and prayer.