John William Erickson, Sr.

John William Erickson Senior was born on June 13, 1925 to Gustav A. and Eva Marie Wilson Erickson and passed away on Friday, December 14, 2018.

He grew up in Chicago and Freeport, Illinois. He served as a radio man in the US Navy during World War II and was called up to the Korean War serving in Oahu. He graduated from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL and married Barbara Ruth Davis in Moline, IL on December 20, 1947. He attended graduate school at the University of Iowa. He worked in Wyoming, Pennsylvania and Oklahoma as an Exploration Geologist for Atlantic Refining Co., Gulf Oil Corp., Michigan-Wisconsin Pipeline, Texas International Petroleum Co. and Walter Duncan Oil Properties.

He was President of the OKC Geological Society in 1971-1972 and a member of AAPG and GSA.

A lifelong Lutheran, he was also a charter member of the Canterbury Choral Society, the American Theater Organ Society and was active in the American Guild of Organists.

He was proceeded in death by his parents Gustav and Eva, brother Alfred and uncle Irvin.

He is survived by wife, Barbara Erickson and sons, Steven of Norristown, PA, John Jr. (Tonya) of OKC, Paul of OKC, Joel (Rona) of Tulsa, Mahlon (Jean) of OKC, Vince (Mary) of McGregor, TX and daughters Lael of OKC and Andrea (Steve) Johnson of Kyle, TX. He is also survived by thirteen grandchildren, Amy Hearn of OKC, Stefani Wilson of Sacramento, CA, Rachael Rice (David) of Portland, OR, Lisa Jester (Mark) of Highland Village, TX, Dillon Flanagan (Rebekah) of OKC, Kalen Morero (Joseph) of Monterey, CA, Nora Bays of Kyle, TX, Fern Pittman of Lancaster, PA, Anna Johnson (Greg) of Chicago, IL, John Erickson of Roxbury Crossing, MA, Lena Erickson of OKC, Malia and DJ Erickson of McGregor, TX and nine great grandchildren. Other survivors are a much-loved former daughter-in-law Kathy (Mike) Leviant of Georgetown, TX.

A memorial service to celebrate John’s life will be at Concordia Life Care Community, 7707 West Britton Road, Oklahoma City, OK, on Saturday, December 29, 2018, at 2:00pm.