John Hendrick Holmberg Jr.

At the age of five, John’s family moved to Sanak, Alaska. There, he found a love for hunting birds and catching salmon – which his family would enjoy for dinner. John made homemade gunny sacks to take on his adventures, as well as nets for fishing, and always had his dog, Prince, at his side.

John didn’t like school. He was mischievous, with his fiery red hair and the teacher knew she had a handful. In school, he teased a little girl by tying her dress to her chair and as punishment he was sent to the coal shed. There, he would sit and open up the coal bags and scatter them everywhere, eventually sneaking out of the shed. Little did he know, the girl he teased would later become his wife, Mary Lena Nielson.

By the time John was 17, he was running his father’s little fishing boat. It was during this time that he decided he wanted to be a commercial fisherman. John briefly stepped away from fishing to join the Army. During his time in the Army, he worked as a tanker stationed in Kodiak, Alaska and eventually transferred to Anchorage where he became an airplane mechanic. He fell in love with planes and began flying lessons. John completed the trainer course, but during a vision exam he discovered he was color blind at night.

After the Army, John went back to commercial fishing and during the off season he would go back to Anchorage, where he and his wife lived for many years.

John was a kind and funny man - he never had a bad thing to say about anyone. He was very hard working and while he was gone a lot because of fishing, he was a fantastic provider for his family. His kind heart was so warm and he made everyone feel so loved.

John spoiled his wife, Mary Lena, and they were always attached at the hip. Together, they traveled frequently in their motor home with their beloved dog, Fluffy. Anywhere there was water – the three of them would go. He enjoyed traveling abroad and the couple went to Sweden, Bangkok, China, Singapore and more during their travels. They were married for 75 years, and were more in love than ever.

John’s adventurous spirit and curiosity carried him throughout life – he was always doing something. In retirement, John had a place in Las Vegas, where he and his friend, William Gilbert, would fly their remote control planes. John and his wife, Mary Lena, enjoyed skiing well into their 50s. A true outdoorsman who loved the water, John’s favorite hobbies included flying planes, building boats, clam digging as well as crabbing, shrimping and trout fishing.

John also loved the holidays, especially his birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. If there was a dance floor, he was there, tearing it up. He enjoyed classic meals like a turkey dinner, steak and eggs benedict, but he was most famously known for his sweet tooth and love for any kind of dessert.

John was a humble, simple man except when it came to his cars and boats. He always had the best. He was always thinking about how he could make something better than it was, so much so that he built two boats – one in Edmonds made of fiberglass and one of steal in Oxnard, California. John was known as a crafts and handy man, there was nothing he would not try to make.

He is survived by five children: John Henry, Randy, Cyndee, Brenda and Duane, his siblings: Harriet, Fred, Roger, Mary Ann and Paul and his beloved dog, Fluffy.

A memorial service for John will be held Monday, November 6, 2023 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Purdy & Walters at Floral Hills, 409 Filbert Road, Lynnwood, WA 98036, followed by a committal service will occur Monday, November 6, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM, 409 Filbert Road, Lynnwood, WA 98036.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.floralhillslynnwood.com for the Holmberg family.