John Henry Carl Dachtler, age 84, of Tonasket, Washington, left peacefully in his sleep on March 27, 2021, to return to his Maker and Savior in Heaven, the land where he'll never grow old, after 4 months of struggling through illness he was unable to overcome. John was born on February 16, 1937, in Elgin, North Dakota, to Oscar and Elizabeth Dachtler. At a very young age he worked for local farmers to help take care of his mother. He enlisted in the US Navy at age 17. He served on the USS Tutuila, a repair ship, the USS Haleakala, and ammunitions ship, and the Burton Island, and icebreaker. He became very skilled in welding/pipefitting while serving on these ships. On May 2, 1964, he was married to Mary Yutzy in Salem, Oregon. Several months later he was discharged from the Navy and he continued his welding trade in civilian life, landing him jobs in oil refineries, oil fields, on the Alaska pipeline and with Bechtel in Indonesia and lastly with M&W Construction. He was always willing to help anyone in need of his service. He and his wife, Mary, moved to Washington four years ago, where he loved driving through the mountains, looking for wildlife and wild horses. His passion was scouting the country via the roads less traveled. He loved being with his family, his grandkids and great-grandkids, in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews, never missing a chance to take them for ice cream and stories. He attended Tonasket Foursquare Church and shortly before his death reaffirmed his faith in Jesus.

John leaves behind his wife, Mary, brother Marvin Dachtler of Bismarck, N Dak, two sons: Steven (Tina) of Iowa City, IA, and Deron (Angela) of Tonasket, WA, 6 grandchildren: Dylan Pritchard (Tabitha) and Cassie Pritchard, Olivia and Jada Dachtler and Joselyn and John Dachtler, 5 great grandchildren: Matigan, Emanuel, Elijah and Lucy Pritchard and Samuel Dachtler, plus many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by three children, Shanna Lyn, Timothy Mark and Angela Dawn, his parents, Oscar and Elizabeth Dachtler, and one sister, Dorothy Ennis, & 2 brothers George and Gerhardt Dachtler.

A memorial service is being planned for later this year in Iowa City.