John fell asleep in Christ on April 19, 2025. Holy Saturday at the age of 91.
John was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on September 6, 1933. John attended Forest Hill Collegiate in Toronto and McGill University in Montreal.
At the age of 38, in a time of deep despair and brokenness he was brought into a life changing relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and his life became an exciting adventure from that moment.
In 1977, he was called to the USA to serve under the Anglican bishop of Pittsburgh in a street and bar ministry in the city of Pittsburgh’s North Side.
In 1985, John founded and evangelistic ministry headed by a board of directors. That same year he was chosen as a participant in the International Conference of Itinerant Evangelists in Amsterdam, Holland under the auspices of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
His labors as an evangelist, took him to four continents and ten countries.
John had a special place in his heart for the poor, disenfranchised and youth who were right outside the church. When he shared the good news of Christ crucified and risen from the dead, he got a great response from such people. He came to them as one of them.
In 1995, he was received into the Holy Orthodox Church. He felt by doing so he was really coming home to “the Faith once for all delivered to the saints”.
The last years of his life were spent as a volunteer at the Butler County jail sharing the Gospel of God’s forgiving love in Christ with those incarcerated.
He is survived by his beloved wife Karin Sue (Bianchi) Dowker, his children, Peter (Pam) Dowker, Thomas (Jill) Dowker, Judith Kazmaier, John (Sarah) Dowker, and Aimilia (Father Ignatius) Green, and 12 grandchildren and one great grandchild. Also two step-sons, Kenneth (Diana) DeWitt, Michael (Renee) DeWitt, five step-grandchildren and two step great grandchildren.
Visiting hours will be 5:00 to 8:00 pm on Wednesday April 23 at Samuel Teolis Funeral Home, 309 Spring Ave, Ellwood City, PA 16117.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Thursday, April 24 at the Transfiguration Monastery, 321 Monastery Ln, Ellwood City, PA. Burial in the Monastery cemetery will follow.
In lieu of flowers, please make any donations to the Transfiguration Monastery, 121 Monastery Ln, Ellwood City, PA 16117
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