Washington - John Kaspar Sjong passed away at the age of 85 surrounded by his family on March 2, 2022. He was known as Pappa, Besten, Onkel, Jan, John and Mr. Sjong. Born in Horten, Norway on December 3, 1936, he grew up in Norway on the mountain farm of Skotet and in Sykkylven.

John served in the Norwegian military from 1956-1957. In January of 1960, John moved to the United States. He worked as a machinist until he was drafted into the US Army (1960-1962). After the army, he went from engineer on the M/V Robert M in 1965 to becoming the youngest skipper in the fleet aboard the M/V Viking in only a few years. This was the beginning of a long distinguished career in the fishing industry.

In 1966 John met his wife Berit Ingebrigtsen at a dance at Norway Center. They married in 1967 and had three daughters: Tina, Lisa and Vicky. He went from skipper to boat owner in his first partnership which built the M/V Olympic in 1968, one of the first new crab boats in the fleet. From there he continued to build his business, owning more than 30 vessels in his career. He was part of many companies and partnerships through the years, including Olympic Fisheries, The Pot Shop (building crab pots), Trans Pacific Industries, Marine Management, Arctic Fresh, Keyport, B & J Industries, Regal Fish and Royal Seafoods. He brought a number of Norwegians over to America to work on his boats and helped mentor many engineers and skippers over the years. These were some of John's many legacies.

With the 296' F/V Arctic Trawler, John became a pioneer in fishing, processing and flash freezing all on the same boat. John was a fearless fisherman, talented skipper and savvy businessman that helped create opportunities to influence the Pacific Northwest's fishing industry. He expected hard work and excellence from himself as well as those around him forging many different partnerships and alliances in the US and Norway.

John played soccer for the Vikings until he hung up his cleats at 69 years old. John was involved in a number of civic and heritage focused organizations during his 62 years in America. He was a Nile Shriner and an active member and supporter of Norway Center, Norwegian Commercial Club, Norwegian American Chamber of Commerce, Ballard Rotary, Sons of Norway, The Norwegian American newspaper, The Norwegian American Foundation and the National Nordic Museum. John received many awards during his career including the NACC Person of the Year, the King Neptune Award and Ballard Rotary Man of the Year.

John was proud of his Norwegian heritage. He made sure his family knew the stories, traditions, language and culture, all of which molded who he was and how he operated. In recent years he partnered with a group of gentlemen to tell the stories of brave Norwegians during WWII through art and books. After retiring, John remodeled houses and rebuilt old cars. John came from humble beginnings to a country he didn't know and created a family and a life that left a lasting impact on the people he met, the industry he helped build, and the cultural community he supported.

John is survived by his three daughters and their families: Tina & David Holdt - Megan, Elizabeth & Karl Jan; Lisa Sjong - Travis & Kelli; Vicky & Jim Jaquish - Allison & Katie and his beloved dog Toby. He is also survived by his sister Bjørg Sjong, his fiancé Liv Jacobsen and his niece and family Randi & Brede Moldstad - Mathias & Ida.

The Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 pm on May 6, 2022 at the Nile Golf and Country Club - 6601 244th St SW, Mountlake Terrace WA 98043. Memorial contributions can be made to The American Heart Association.