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John Patrick Watson
Kenai Police Officer John Patrick Watson died Thursday, Dec. 25, 2003, in
the line of duty. He was 43.
A viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday
at Peninsula Memorial Chapel in Kenai. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m.
Wednesday at the Kenai Central High School in the Renee C. Henderson Auditorium.
Pastor David Higginbotham will officiate. In accordance with his wishes, he will
be cremated following the funeral.
A memorial Mass will be held at a later date in
South Haven, Mich.
Officer Watson was born June 12, 1960, in Grand
Rapids, Mich., to Alfred and Sally Watson. He graduated from South Haven High
School in 1978 and Ferris State College in 1981. He then served his country in
the U.S. Army and was a highly decorated veteran. He served in the Anchorage
Police Department Reserves before going to work for the Kenai Police Department,
where he served for the past 18 years.
He enjoyed his family, friends, the outdoors
and riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle. In fact, he was instrumental in
starting the local Harley-Davidson owners' group. He had a soft spot for
children and had worked with the Boy Scouts.
He was a man of great faith and active in the
Kenai Christian Church.
He was preceded in death by his father, Alfred
Watson, who died in 1993.
Officer Watson is survived by his wife, Kathy
Watson of Kenai; daughter, Renetta of Kenai; stepchildren, Justin Rust, Ron Rust
Jr., David Rust, Michael Rust, Daniel Rust and Chelaine Rust; his mother, Sally
Watson of South Haven; brothers, Alfred Watson and his wife, Diane, of Fort
Thomas, Ky., and Thomas Watson and his wife, Renee, of Bangor, Mich.; sister,
Mary Wilkinson and her husband, Neal, of Iowa City, Iowa; nephews, David and Ben
Watson and Cole Wilkinson; nieces, Andrea, Catherine and Krista Watson and
Natalie Wilkinson; and his aunt and uncle, Patsy and Bill Switzer of Plainwell,
Mich.
A memorial fund has been established in Officer
Watson's name through First National Bank Alaska. It is the John Watson Memorial
Fund, account No. 70230735.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial
Chapel.
Source: Peninsula Clarion,
December 28, 2003
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