John Joseph Powers

Anchorage resident John Joseph "Jack" Powers, 69, passed away at home on January 17, 2012.

A visitation will be held on Monday, January 23, 2012 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at Janssen's Evergreen Memorial Chapel; 737 E Street, Anchorage, Alaska. A service will be held on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at Janssen's Evergreen Memorial Chapel. A Celebration of Life will be held after the service on Tuesday, January 24th after 4:00 p.m. at Tudor Road Bingo; 3411 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, Alaska. Jack will be laid to rest in the spring at Angelus Memorial Park Cemetery.

Jack was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on June 30, 1942. He was raised there along with three other siblings by his mother and stepfather. Jack graduated from South Vocational High School and relocated to Alaska in 1962 with the United States Army. He was stationed at Fort Richardson and was honorably discharged in 1964.

Jack then began work at the Anchorage Telephone Utility where he moved through the ranks from an entry level apprentice to the Central Office Installation Foreman supervising over 20 employees during his 18 year career. He was also a retired member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 1547. Jack was one of the founding members of the Anchorage Bucs baseball team.

He received numerous community awards and recognitions over the years. In 1995, he was honored as Hope Cottages "Employer of the Year" and received the respectable Melvin Jones Fellow award in 1997 from the Lions Club International Foundation. In 2008, he personally donated $25,000.00 and initiated the efforts to invoke the community to raise funds needed to help revive the financially devastated Anchorage Fur Rendezvous. This proved to be a victorious campaign and a turning point for this renowned organization.

Jack owned and operated Tudor Road Bingo Center, Lottery Alaska, Tudor Charity Tabs (2 locations), and The Silver Derby Campground and RV Park in Lowell Point (Seward), Alaska employing over 55 Alaskans. Through his charitable gaming efforts, he has raised over 20 million dollars for Alaskan charities throughout the state.

Jack was known as a "super voter". He recognized his responsibility to vote and has cast his votes in every election held. Over the years, he has volunteered and supported numerous candidates and their campaigns such as: Bill Egan for Governor; Bill Sheffield for Governor; Tony Knowles for Governor; Frank Murkowski for United States Senate; Mark Begich for Mayor and United States Senate; Bill Stoltze for State House; Johnnie Ellis for State Senate; Tom Fink for Governor and Mayor; Rick Mystrom for Mayor; Ernie Hall for Assembly; and Dan Sullivan for Mayor.

Jack enjoyed listening to good ole' rock and roll and jazz music. He was known back in the day for his crowd pleasing jitterbug performances. He was an entrepreneur and inventor and especially enjoyed bingo and politics.

Jack is survived by his stepfather Johnny Joyce of Pittsburgh, sons Mark Powers of Anchorage and Adam Powers of California; daughters-in-law Jeri Powers of Anchorage and Tina Pintakume of California; brothers John K. Powers and Tom Powers of Anchorage; sister-in-law Sandy Powers of Anchorage; sister Amelia Wittman of Montana; brother-in-law Ron Wittman of Montana; sister Kathleen Powers of Florida; grandsons Stephan Stiller, Cedric Powers and Randy Rathbun of Anchorage; granddaughters Autumn Stiller of California and Foster Powers of Arizona; nephews Sam and Joshua Powers of Anchorage; longtime friends Rick Tuttle and Denece Scott of Anchorage; along with many other friends, relatives and employees.

Jack was preceded in death by his father John J. Powers and mother Amelia Jo; and sister Madeline Powers.

Arrangements are with Janssen's Evergreen Memorial Chapel;

www.janssenfuneralhomes.com.