John passed away April 11, 2021, at the age of 94, in Seattle, surrounded by fire fighters who had come to his aid. He was born March 16, 1927 in Mt. Vernon, WA to Marvin and Eva Ahrens. John moved to Seattle at age 8, and later went to Ballard High School where he met Lois Sparks. Before he could graduate, he was drafted for service in WWII. After boot camp he married Lois, and then spent his year of service in the Army as an Automotive Specialist in Korea. After the Army, John and Lois resumed life in Ballard, and he joined the Seattle Fire Department. He served as a Fire Fighter for 23 years and then retired on disability from injuries. From his earliest years, John collected tools, and created a shop in the family home where he could “do anything”: fix it, adapt it, make it better, or invent it. “Everybody who knew him knew he had a shop. He was always working on something down there for somebody”, Lois said. “He made friends of his customers, and customers of his friends”, she said. The couple reared three children: Joanne, John Michael, and Jim who all graduated from Ballard High, as did Lois. John and Lois celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary together on January 9, 2021, a date John worked very hard to keep. On the big day they ‘Zoomed’ with friends and relatives around the country from their apartment at Merrill Gardens in Ballard, about a mile away from the house where they were married. John is survived by his wife of 75 years, Lois; daughter Joanne Hansen; grandson James Michael Ahrens and great-grandchildren Jillian and Aiden of Saskatchewan; grandson Colin Ahrens of Portland, OR; and daughter-in-law Donna Benjamin.
A memorial service with US Army honors will be held at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington on Monday, May 17, 2021 at 2:00 pm.
All are welcome to sign the online guestbook below and add any messages or stories for the Ahrens family.
