When islander Lauri Hennessey met John Ericksen in the early 2000s, he had just entered into what would become a 15-year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. The battle, along with a cancer diagnosis earlier this year, ultimately led to his death, but his wife and friends say it never took away his grace, kindness or love for music and children.

Ericksen, 68, a longtime pastor of Vashon Lutheran Church and prominent figure in countless island groups including the Rotary Club, Vashon Island Chorale and multiple churches, died on June 28, leaving behind a legacy of islanders touched by his kindness.

“John had a tremendous role in the community,” Hennessey said. “I didn’t known the John that everyone else had knew, this wise, wise man that guided everyone, but he was from a different age; he was very beloved.”

He was pastor of the Lutheran church from 1988 to 2001, served as Rotary Club president from 1992 to 1993, emceed the annual Christmas caroling event at the Vashon Theater for many years and sang in the chorale with his wife, Marita, until he could not anymore.

“This Lutheran minister who helped the island so much, that’s the story here,” Hennessey said. “He volunteered, he was in the choir and on every board.”

Over their 35 years of marriage, John and Marita travelled from Anchorage, to Chelan, to Vashon, to Everett and back to Vashon as he preached at different churches. Always a musical couple — the two first met at a Christmas caroling party in Tacoma in the late 1970s — the Ericksen’s came to Vashon in 1988 with their daughter and threw themselves into the Vashon Island Chorale, Drama Dock and the Methodist and Lutheran church choirs.

Islander Patte Wagner’s daughter was best friends with the Ericksen’s daughter during John’s time as pastor. Wagner said he was the reason her family started going to church.

“He was just a lovely man,” she said. “He had a lovely way with children. He was so gentle and so sweet. He personified grace, even in those last days with all the illness going on, he was awe-inspiring. I’m going to miss him terribly.”

John was called to a church in Everett in 2001, so the family left, but Marita and John came back after his Alzheimer’s diagnosis in 2005.

“He had (Alzheimer’s) for awhile, but didn’t let us know,” Marita said. “He was really good. When he was diagnosed, I asked him where he wanted to go. I was hoping he would say Vashon, and he just said, ‘Call Emma Amiad.'”

They moved back and picked up their life where they left off in 2001. Marita cared for John, led the Methodist church’s youth choir and worked with children at the Vashon Center for the Arts putting on musicals.

“I said I would not go underground and take him with me. We were going to continue living in the community we love,” she said.

His love for music continued through his final days.

“He continued to sing from his hospice bed,” Marita said. “He loved the old-time gospel songs. He would tap his toe and sing along with the words he remembered.”

In an interview last week, Marita spoke of her husband as “a wonderful guy” who was easy to love.

“He was just amazingly kind and would do anything for the community,” she said. “There are people he touched that I didn’t even know of.

Memorial service

A community memorial service for John Ericksen will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 10, at the Katherine L White Hall.

All are welcome to attend.