John A. Didricksen

John Anthony Didricksen was interred in a military service at Arlington National Cemetery on May 8, 2018. It was John's long-standing desire to be laid to rest at Arlington. The service was attended by his cousins Margaret Lead of Seattle and Nancy Lead Olsen of Camas, WA, and friends Fred and Darlene Hoven of Cathlamet.

John was born on December 7, 1947 to George and Marie (Markovich) Didricksen of Cathlamet and died (age 68) on May 8, 2016 at the VA Medical Center in Portland, OR. He attended Wahkiakum High School before he enlisted in the US Army. He served in Vietnam from 1966 to 1969, primarily as a munitions expert in an artillery battery near the DMZ. For his service he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and Army Commendation Medal.

With the exception of his years of service, John fished in Alaska as a commercial fisherman every summer from the age of 15 to retirement. He also fished out of Hawaii, the Philippines, the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, and Texas, as well as on the Columbia River. He was a skilled woodworker; expert at building fishing poles and tying flies; enjoyed kite flying, trap shooting, and hunting birds; and could tell a good story.

John was preceded in death by his brother Joseph and his longtime partner Rosemary Oakerson.