John O. Asker

John O. Asker, Jr., 78, of Soap Lake, passed away Feb. 5 at Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake. An Idaho native, John grew up in Grangeville, Idaho, graduated from the University of Idaho and served in the U.S. army during the Korean War.

John spent his entire life in the grocery business. At the age of 10 he began helping his father in the family grocery store in Grangeville. He managed grocery stores throughout the Yakima Valley, including Toppenish, where he met and married his wife of 39 years, Frances (Hettich) Asker in 1959. In 1963, John opened his own store, John's Foods, in Soap Lake and later a second store in Coulee City. John loved Soap Lake and devoted much of his time to the Soap Lake community. He spearheaded a community effort to save the Soap Lake schools from consolidation. He was active in the Soap Lake Lions Club for over 40 years and especially enjoyed playing Santa Claus for children in the Soap Lake schools for many of those years. He was also active in Eagle Boosters, Faith Lutheran Church, the Soap Lake Planning Commission, and served on the board of the Senior Opportunity Center. He was awarded the Golden Acorn for community service by the Soap Lake Parent Teacher's Association. John was an avid fisherman, both lake and deep sea. His greatest love was his family and he was a proud and devoted grandfather.

John was preceded in death by his first wife, Frances, and his parents, John and Zelda Asker of Grangeville, Idaho. He is survived by his second wife Priscilla Johnson Asker, of Soap Lake, his son David and wife Mona Asker of Soap Lake, daughter Barbara and husband Marc Pence of Portland, Ore., four grandchildren: Daniel and Mary Asker of Soap Lake and Rachel and Victoria Pence of Portland, Ore., three stepchildren, Lloyd and Cliff Johnson, and Jennifer Storey and three step-grandchildren, Hannah and Melissa Johnson and Audrey Storey. Two brothers also survive him: Jerry and wife Milly Asker of Grangeville, Idaho and Bill and wife Bonnie Asker of White Bird, Idaho.

Graveside services will be held at Valleyview Cemetery in Soap Lake on Feb. 10 at 1 p.m. This will be followed by a memorial and Celebration of Life at 2 p.m. at Don's Banquet Room in Soap Lake. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Soap Lake Lions Club to be used in community programs — P. 0. Box 1170, Soap Lake, WA 98851.

Nicoles Funeral Home in Ephrata is in charge of the arrangements.