John Akotnekoff

descent. At the age of 12, he and his family migrated to the United States through Ellis

Island and traveled to the west coast, settling in the Los Angeles area of California. He

married his wife, Jean Patapoff, on September 19, 1965. In 1974 they moved to Oregon

and eventually bought a home in Aurora, where they lived the rest of their lives. They

had three children, Valerie, Victor and Michael. Prior to Jean passing away in March

2021, they had celebrated their 55th year anniversary. John passed away due to kidney

and heart failure on Monday, May 12, 2025, in his home at the age of 80 years old.

John enlisted in the army at the age of 16, in 1961, during the Vietnam War, although he

did not serve overseas. He served for four years and was discharged in 1965. While

living in California he worked for the Ford Motor Company until they moved to Oregon,

where he immediately got a job as a machinist at Bingham Willamette Company until he

retired in 2002 at the age of 57. In 1986 both John and Jean got their citizenship as

Americans and proudly flew the flag on their front porch. They were both faithful

Christians and were raised and attended the Russian Molokan Church in California and

Oregon. Eventually the church faded away and they began visiting American churches.

After Jean passed away John began attending Canby Christian Church.

Family was most important to John and his wife. They enjoyed entertaining family and

friends, barbequing, camping and cruises. John’s passion was gardening and fishing.

The highlight of the year was reserving the month of September at Coyote Rock on the

Siletz River. He loved camping with his wife and family. His favorite moments were

fishing and boating with his sons and grandson.

John is survived by his three children, Valerie (Charles Stahlberg), Victor Akotnekoff,

Michael Akotnekoff (Angie Ackerson), his five grandchildren, Amber (Stahlberg) Iverson

(Philip Iverson), Hayley Stahlberg, Ethany and Matthew Akotnekoff, Wyatt Akotnekoff

and his great-grandchildren, Adley and Kira Iverson.