Obituary of John Stefan Merculief

John Stefan Merculief passed suddenly to be with our Lord Jesus Christ on June 30, 2020.

John Stefan "Papa" or "Papa Bear" Merculief was born January 17, 1940, on St. George Island, Alaska, to Stefan and Agrippina Merculief. He came to Texas from Alaska, and married the love of his life in 1968. John enjoyed carpentry and working with tools. He loved fishing and  enjoyed taking his family on beach vacations. His hobbies included a  love of photography over the years, taking family photos, and he loved to grill and barbeque for family cookouts. He trained/worked as a radio/tv technician, worked in the lumber industry, and retired from the Internal Revenue Service. John and Alice supported their children, grandchildren and great‑grandchildren through every endeavor.  John was known for his wit, humor, and positive attitude in trying times.

John would recite his favorite prayer daily, “LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD, HAVE MERCY ON ME A SINNER, “The Jesus Prayer”.

John was a survivor of the June 1942 Evacuation of the Pribilof Islands and Internment at Funter Bay, Alaska during World War II. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, siblings, Natalia, Nicolai, Nadesda, Evdokia, Margie, Uleta, Innokenty, Rosie, and Andrew.

John is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Alice; son John Stefan Merculief II; daughter Stefanie MacLeod(Michael); grandchildren Savanna Fraire and Matthew Feyereisen; great‑grandchildren: Thomas Stefan, Marisa Lucia, John Stefan, Janie Rose, and Michael James MacLeod, as well as many nieces and nephews in Texas, as well as in Alaska.

Pallbearers are John Stefan Merculief II, Matthew Feyereisen, Wilburn Hackebeil, Christopher Hernandez, Rick Castillo, and Javier Castillo.

Honarary pallbearers are Michael MacLeod, Ted Hernandez, and Annie Hackebeil,

Due to the Coronavirus /  COVID-19

Capacity levels are restricted at funeral homes, churches, and cemeteries.

Each person entering the funeral home, church, and cemetery will be required to wear a mask and to practice social distancing of 6 feet or more. If you are ill or are concerned about the virus, it is recommended that you not attend services. 

Please be advised that ALL guests must wear some form of face covering at all times. In addition, guests are NOT permitted to congregate in the lobby, entry, or parking lot of the Funeral Home at any time.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with Recitation of the Holy Rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at Mission Funeral Home - South. (60 guest capacity Masks Required)

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 8, 2020 at Dolores Catholic Church.(Limit 60 Guests and Masks/Gloves are Required)

Interment will follow at Assumption Cemetery.(Limit 60 Guests)

Please visit www.missionmemorials.com to order flowers and leave codolences.