John M. Pontius

1952 ~ 2012
John Marion Pontius, beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and well-known LDS author and speaker, passed away peacefully in his home on December 10, 2012, after a lifetime of service to the Lord Jesus Christ.
He was born on May 12, 1952 in Moscow, Idaho to wonderful parents, Robert V. and Ann Pontius. Ever since he was a little boy, all John ever desired was to serve the Lord in whatever capacity he was called. He served an LDS mission to South Africa and returned home to BYU where he married Kathy Ferguson. They had four beautiful children: Matt, Ben, Bonnie and Lisa. They later divorced. John loved living in Alaska for nearly 35 years. He married Terri Jeanne Muhlestein and sealed four more beautiful children into his eternal family: Alicia, Jason, Stephen and Jessica. He loves his precious family with a pure and abiding love. They are each his treasure.
John had the sweet and humbling gift of writing with the pen of angels. The Lord gave him an ability uniquely his to express the gospel of Jesus Christ in a simple yet magnificently beautiful way. Throughout his life he has touched many thousands of lives through his published books, firesides, and blog (Unblog My Soul). In addition, John's passions included music, playing piano and organ masterfully since a young boy, oil painting, woodworking, conducting choral and orchestra (his favorite being the Mat-Su Alaska Community Messiah, which he did for many years), Christmas, and anything that captivated his mechanical and technical genius.
He is survived by his wife Terri Pontius of Saratoga Springs, Utah; son J. Matthew Pontius (Corinne) of American Fork, Utah; son Benjamin Joseph Pontius (Rainee) of Kenai, Alaska; daughter Bonnie Pontius Donigan (Patrick) of Somerville, Massachusetts; daughter Lisa Pontius Fennell (Jake) of Wasilla, Alaska; daughter Alicia Keller (Jake) of Parker, Colorado; son Jason Espersen (Amanda) of Spring, Texas; son Stephen Espersen (Christie) of Saratoga Springs, Utah; and daughter Jessica Elizabeth Pontius, of Saratoga Springs, Utah.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 15, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. in the Saratoga Springs Stake Center, 587 South Saratoga Springs Road, Saratoga Springs, Utah. A viewing will be held Friday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Warenski Funeral Home, 1776 North 900 East, American Fork, Utah and also on Saturday from 12:30-1:30 p.m. prior to services at the Saratoga Springs Stake Center. Interment will follow at the American Fork Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.warenski.com