To the Journal editor:

John Hongisto passed away a few weeks ago. No services have been held. John died in a cranberry bog he frequented. I think he was happy it happened this way.

My last conversation with him was on the night before he died when I called to thank him for the gift of cranberries he had given me.

He was a good American, a veteran, a warrior and a patriot. He loved nature and was a hunter, fisherman, and trapper who was at home with nature in the woods he roamed.

John was an outspoken champion for the causes he supported and I think many enjoyed and learned from the frequent letters he sent to the newspapers supporting his thoughts on politics, resource use, and bureaucratic abuse.

He was not a perfect person and he was disliked by some with whom he disagreed. He stood loyal to his beliefs however and did not waver in his stands. I’m sure there are some who will not grieve at his passing.

I promoted John to represent the Upper Peninsula Sportsmen’s Alliance on the Wolf Roundtable. The facilitator from MSU did not want him to serve and neither did the DNR, but UPSA held fast and John served well.

He promised not to wear any shirts with inflaming slogans like “Wolves are addictive, smoke a pack a day”. He made his points with solid, scientific information. He was a very well read individual and quite intelligent.

I considered John a friend and his passing will leave a void in the lives of many. I hope he was in heaven a half hour before the devil knew he was dead.

G. Dale McNamee

Escanaba