Lt. Col. Jon Calvert Dawson

Lt. Col. Jon Calvert Dawson

July 29, 1935 - March 28, 2022

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Lt. Col. Jon Calvert Dawson (ret.), 86, passed away on March 28, 2022, peacefully at home with family by his side.

Jon was born in McCook, Neb. He met the love of his life, Phyllis Marie Ditus, while in high school, and married Phyllis when the two of them were seniors at the University of Nebraska. Jon graduated the University as a Distinguished Military graduate and was commissioned as an officer in the Armor Branch of the United States Army. His military career spanned 26 years and numerous posts in the United States and Europe. He served in Vietnam as an advisor to the Montagnard forces and was awarded the Bronze Star.

He moved to Anchorage in 1971, at age 36, and fell in love with Alaska. He received a master’s degree in public school administration from the University of Alaska in 1975. Four years later, at age 43, he suffered a major stroke that would challenge him for the rest of his life. But he met that challenge with perseverance, grit and grace. He never complained, and he never quit trying.

After his career in the Army, Jon was a teacher at Service High School and a broker with Jack White Real Estate. He was a member of Toastmasters and was active in Sigma Chi Fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (Music) Fraternity and the Fraternal Order of Elks. He loved the outdoors, fishing, radio control airplanes, traveling, golf, good movies, classical music and family. Alaska was home, but he enjoyed time at his condo in Hawaii and his second home in Woodland, Calif.

He was a devout Methodist and deeply patriotic. Jon was known for his friendliness, kindness and winning smile. He loved to hear about people’s lives and stories. He never missed an opportunity to let family know how much he loved them.

Jon was preceded in death by his parents, Upton and Helen Dawson.

Jon is survived by Phyllis, his wife of 65 years; son, Jon S. Dawson (Cindy); daughter, Donyel Niehues (Jim); grandchildren, Jen Cardelus (Arturo), Christine Williams (Ben), Jim Niehues, John Niehues (Ann), Lars Vargas (Nick); great-grandchildren, Grace and William Cardelus, Rosalie Williams, Eleanor and Robert Niehues; brother-in-law, Stan Ditus; niece, Shelley Biegel (David) and her family Molly Willis (Noah), Hannah Lippett (William), Dave Biegel, Nancy Biegel, Sophie Biegel, Aimee Willis and Hazel Willis.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in his honor be made to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which honors military and first responders. There will be a celebration of Jon’s life at 2 p.m., on May 7, 2022, at St. John United Methodist Church, 1801 O’Malley Road in Anchorage.