John Wilson Jr.

Long time Juneau resident, John Wilson, Jr. 93, passed away peacefully November 8, 2024, at home with his family in Juneau, Alaska.
A celebration of life will be held at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall, 320 W. Willoughby Ave., Juneau, AK 99801 on Friday, November 22, 2024 at 5:00PM. The St. Nicholas Orthodox church will offer prayers. The family thanks everyone for their support and love, and will not be accepting monetary donations as there will be no Tlingit cultural activities.
John was born October 30, 1931 in Hoonah, Alaska. His parents were Olga and John Wilson, Sr. Following his mother, he was of the Kiks.ádi clan from the Gagaan Hít, the Sun House in Sitka, Alaska. His Tlingit name was Yéil xhoosh "raven's claw". He was a child of the Chookaneidí, his fathers clan. He attended Sheldon Jackson, an Indian boarding school. John married Susan Wilson on June 21, 1963 in Juneau, Alaska. John, his father and brother, were the first Alaska Native charter members of the Laborer's Local 942, where he worked for 40 years until his retirement. Then he worked for another 19 years at the Travelodge and the Juneau Empire. Throughout his life, he practiced a subsistence lifestyle, he especially loved fishing on his boat the "Anticipation", and he was a competitive basketball player.
John cherished his family. He is survived by his children, Babs, Matthew, Shane, Jason, Mike, Leilani, Angie, and Scott, and his brother Raymond. He has 27 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his daughters, Kathleen & Sylvia, his foster son Jon Ebona, and his siblings Beatrice, Maryann, William, Donald, Norma and his cousin Norma Irene.
John Wilson, Jr.