John Virgil Kershaw

John Virgil Kershaw, 80, passed away peacefully June 21, 2022 at his home in Bremerton. He was born March 17, 1942 in Maywood, CA, to John Davis Kershaw and Barbara Reagan Kershaw. He was the oldest of six children and is survived by Anita Lewis, Karen Berg and Jim Kershaw. His brother, Larry and sister Vicky preceded him in death.

John married the love of his life, Kathleen Johnson, on December 4, 1982 in the Seattle Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

John is the proud father of eight children; Juan Reese, Dawn Kershaw, Helen Kershaw, Rachel Youngstrom, Squire Kershaw, Marybeth Teran, Cory Kershaw and Emileigh Kershaw, grandfather of 10 and great grandfather of 2.

John's father was a dairyman and they made frequent moves throughout the Northwest during John's growing up years. After attending South Kitsap High School, he joined and proudly served in the US Army for 6 years. He became a part of the Special Forces (Green Beret) and did two tours in Viet Nam as a medic. He then completed a Boiler Maker Apprenticeship and worked Union jobs throughout the NW including the Alaska Pipeline. He worked several years for Sedco Drilling Company on off shore oil rigs in Brazil and West Africa before returning to school and obtaining a BA in Liberal Arts from The Evergreen State College (Tacoma Campus) in 1993 and a BS in Occupational Safety and Health from Central Washington University in 1994. John then went to work for and retired from PSNS.

John was a man of many interests and talents. He coached his younger brother's baseball team and proudly and enthusiastically took them on to several championships. He later coached his younger son's tee ball and baseball teams and also coached the Young Men's team at Church for several years. He loved being a father and spent many, many hours and years jovially taxiing and waiting for his children and their friends while they participated in their many activities. The family loved participating in the Kitsap County Fair every year and John found his niche in entering his canned fruits and jams. He loved finding, collecting and contemplating meaningful thoughts and quotes that inspired him. He loved writing and wrote many beautiful and poignant stories about his life and family experiences as well as eventually publishing a book about his experiences in Viet Nam. He was also often asked to tell his stories at Church Firesides which drew the audience's rapt attention. He loved the stained glass windows of churches and taking photos of them. He loved the early morning sunrises and often drove down to Lion's Park to relish them while listening to his music. He loved life and felt very blessed.

A memorial will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 9256 Nels Nelson Rd NW, Bremerton, on Friday, July 8, 2022 at 11:00am and will be followed by a Grave Side ceremony at Mountain View (Pearson) Cemetery in Silverdale at 2:00pm.