John Wilson Mowell II
January 31, 1923 - January 16, 2013
John Mowell passed away peacefully early Tuesday January 16th of respiratory failure due to complications from pneumonia at Lacey's Manor Care facility. He was 89 years old at the time of his passing.
John was born in Seattle in 1923 to Shelley and Eve Mowell. He was raised and lived in Olympia most of his life. He attended Lincoln Grade School and graduated Olympia High School in 1942.
Always the athlete in football or track, one of his one of his proudest personal achievements was setting the Washington State high school discus throw record in 1941 at the state track meet in Pullman. Later he helped develop the Little Baseball organization in the Olympia area for the benefit of 8-12 year old youths.
After marrying JoAnna Nedry in 1944 he enlisted in the US Navy where he served as an Aviation Machinists Mate during WWII in Pensacola, Florida working on airplanes at the flight training facility there. It was there he developed his skill and later reputation to all as a guy who could figure out how to fix just about anything.
While married to JoAnna for 22 years he raised 3 sons, Jay in Albany, California, David in Lake Oswego, Oregon and Bob in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Through David he also has a Grandaughter, Daemian Murphy and a Great-Granddaughter Hanna Murphy, 14, of Lacey, Washington.
After marrying Dena Erickson 37 years ago he was able to explore her ancestry in Italy and be a positive part of yet another family of boys, Steve and Mike in Olympia and Bob in Mercer Island, Washington. In addition he is survived by step- grandchildren Justin, Adam, Scott, Alicia, Christina, Geoffrey and Todd.
He spent 40 years employed at the Olympia Brewing Company before retiring and was a lifelong member of the of The Olympia chapter of the Fraternal Order of Elks.
John was preceded in death by his first wife JoAnna Mowell, brother Shelley Mowell, step-son Tom Erickson and step-granddaughter Shelly McElwee.
A small service will be held at Mills and Mills Funeral Home at 5725 Littlerock Road SW, Tumwater, Wa. on Monday January 28th, at 1pm.