John F. Thatcher
John F. Thatcher passed away on Jan. 3, 2016. He was 91 years old.
He graduated from Ketchikan High School in 1942, and joined the Merchant Marines immediately after. He and his fellow Merchant Marines were one of many military personnel who landed on Imo Jima, Japan. He proudly displayed vials of sand from that beach. After the war, he returned to Alaska where he built his professional career first in the Alaskan ferry system and then as a pilot for Alaskan cruise ships.
John is survived by his wife of 28 years, Marjorie Thatcher. He leaves behind his son and daughter-in-law, Dennis J. Thatcher and Janet Gordon-Thatcher; son and daughter-in-law, Rand E. and Kathy Thatcher; Marjorie’s children, Anthony Caryl, and Cathy and Steve Moore; and six grandchildren: Garrett and Brian Thatcher, Nickolas and Reuben Beers and Megan and Sean Moore.
A memorial service was held on Jan. 9 at Beck’s Funeral Home located in Edmonds, Washington.
To view his online tribute, go to: becksfuneralhome.com.