John Taylor Fike

JOHN TAYLOR FIKE April 3, 1925 ~ August 13, 2011 "Rest in peace Dad, we love and miss you so much." John Taylor Fike, 86, of Vancouver, WA, passed away with loved ones close by on Saturday evening, Aug. 13th at Peace Health Southwest Medical Center. He was born April 3rd, 1925 in Sacramento, CA to John Taylor Fike and Martha Ruth Fike. John graduated from Roosevelt High School in Fresno, CA and immediately enlisted in the Army as an infantryman on July 29th, 1943. He was very proud to have served his country during WW II in the Pacific Islands including Okinawa in 1945-46. At the age of 20 years, he had ascended rapidly to the rank of First Sergeant, on Jan. 7th, 1946, during combat in Okinawa. He was told at that time that he was the youngest First Sergeant in the Army. After the war he returned to Fresno, where he married high school classmate Elizabeth Sondberg. While working full time and starting a family, John graduated from Fresno State College with a degree in business. John joined Zellerbach Paper Company in June 1950 and was recognized as Salesman of the Year in 1952 and 1955. He retired from Zellerbach management in 1977 and went to work as President of Nelson Ball Paper Co. in Longview, WA. He left Nelson Ball in 1981 to become President and a co-owner of Pac Paper Inc. in Vancouver, WA. He later assumed the positions of CEO and Chairman of the Board. He was extremely happy to have his middle son Bob work with him for nearly 25 years. John enjoyed hunting and fishing as well as golf, reading, spending time with his family and traveling with his beloved wife Elizabeth and their friends. He was also an active member in Vancouver Rotary. John is survived by the love of his life and wife of 64 years, Elizabeth; their sons, William, Robert and Richard; grandchildren, Aaron, Kelley, Nicole, Matt, Riley and Joseph; great-grandchildren, Luke and Charlie; and his beloved dog, Pebbles. John was a wonderful, caring, loving father, husband, grandfather, great-grandfather and mentor to many and will be truly missed by all who were fortunate enough to know him. There will be a small family gathering Thurs., Aug. 25th at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 426 E. Fourth Plain Blvd., Vancouver, WA. A celebrating John's life, and a larger service will be held on Thurs., Sept. 22nd at St. Luke's at 3 p.m., that we hope all of his friends and colleagues will attend. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Veteran's of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans or the USO (United Servicemen's Organization).