In the summer of 1995, they motorhomed the Alaska Highway into Alaska, deciding Alaska would be the place to settle down so they could fish and hunt. When in Wisconsin, hunting white tail deer on his home farm in Aniwa with his father and brothers was a tradition. At their lake home in Northern Wisconsin, the fishing for walleyes and muskies was another favorite. When living in Alaska, he fished the Kenai River. He loved halibut fishing and trolling for silvers from the "Diana Lee" in Kachemak Bay and Resurrection Bay. He enjoyed the scenery just as much as he did the fishing. When he was at his home on Paradise Island, he enjoyed all the waterfowl and moose that inhabited Daniel's Lake which he shared with relatives and friends. His black tail deer hunting trip on the Kittiwake II to Kodiak was very successful, as the moose hunt to Kalgin Island on the "Diana Lee" was. He will be greatly missed by his wife, family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Claire Martzahl.

John is survived by his wife of 42 years, Diana Lee (Tesch) Damitz of Nikiski; sisters, Patsy Damitz of Aniwa, Wis., Ann Damitz of McGregor, Texas, Barb Payton of Indianapolis, Ind., and Marian and her husband, Richard Meidl of Peoria, Ariz.; brothers, Kenneth and his wife, Tessy of Aniwa, Wis., Joseph Damitz of Schofield, Wis., James Damitz and his wife, Susan of Aniwa, Wis., and George Damitz and his wife, Lou Anne of McGregor, Texas, and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial donations may be made in memory of John to Parkinson's Resources of Oregon, 3975 Mercantile Drive, Suite 154, Lake Oswego, OR 97035.

Arrangements made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel in Kenai.