John Anthony Oney

Feb 13, 1934 -

Dec 23, 2021

Longtime Alaskan Tony Oney - John Anthony Oney - died peacefully on Dec. 23, 2021, at his winter home in Loreto, Mexico.

A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, at Rabbit Creek Church, 3401 Rabbit Creek Road in Anchorage, Alaska, with Pastor Mark Goodman officiating.

Tony was born on Feb. 13, 1934, in Oklahoma City, Okla., into the family of John and Grace Oney and sister Karleen. He graduated from Oregon Health Sciences, School of Dentistry. In 1959, he married Rita Hazen. They were married 41 years until her death in 2001. In 2003, Tony found love again and married Jackie Smith.

Though a dentist by profession, Tony had numerous other careers. He guided polar bear and sheep hunts in Alaska, tagged crocodiles in Australia, made a movie with John Denver - Alaska, America's Child - owned Kennicott Land Company and The BBQ Pit with friends, flew film crews on the Iditarod and took people helicopter fishing.

Tony had a zest for life that was unmatched. From traveling with his best friend, Hoppy Harrower, on bikes from Arizona to Mexico City and being thrown in a Mexican prison, to taking his family on a year long motorhome trip, to traveling the globe or flying extensively throughout Alaska and Australia, Tony did it all.

Tony had incredible adventures but his greatest joy was his family. Skiing at Alyeska, going to the cabin at Two Lakes and many trips to far off lands were all done and enjoyed with his family. His family feels blessed to have had him in their lives and his passing leaves a hole in their hearts.

Later in life, the Christian faith he had grown up with became an important part of his life. He read the entire Bible numerous times, did a daily devotional with Jackie and performed dentistry on several mission trips to Guatemala.

Tony is survived by his wife, Jackie; sons and daughters-in-law, Tony (Tara) and John Mason (Amy); daughter and son-in-law, Marilu (Bill) Perry; grandchildren, Billy (Ashlyn) Perry, ZZ (Mitch) Veenstra, Oney (Rachel) Perry, Curtis (Jessie) Loewen, Jesse Oney, Isabelle Oney and Mason Oney; great-grandchildren, Rylan and Cooper Loewen and Ada Perry; nieces and nephews, Toni Mason Shannon, Steven and Teresa Peak and David and Heather Wilson.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the mission organization he worked with: Proyecto Fe International, P.O. Box 241966, Anchorage, AK 99524; or contact Bruna at 907-258-0555. There will be a celebration of life TBA this summer.