Winterport, Maine - John J. Ward III was born at a Brewer hospital on January 28, 1942, to John and Helen (Stormann) Ward. He passed away at home on June 1, 2026.

When he was 5 John and his family moved to Bangor where he attended St. Mary's Church. He was a student at Bangor area schools and graduated from John Bapst High School, class of 1960. The following fall he studied at Husson College. After some time spent in Boston, John joined the United States Air Force and was sent to Turkey to serve as a security guard. Following that deployment John was sent to Lakenheath, a Royal Air Force base in England. There he became a dog handler. Together with his German Shepherd, Tudor, he was an overnight guard for the jets that were stationed there. He was honorably discharged in 1966. John worked as a bartender at the Surfside Restaurant in Bar Harbor. It was there, at Compass Harbor, that he met his future wife, Gail. They were married in 1975. John bought a light trucking business and they moved to Winterport. John loved to be outside. He loved to hunt and again took up the bow hunting that he had done as a kid. Once, when John was sitting waiting for a turkey to come along, a young coyote joined him in the watch, not ten feet away, perhaps waiting for the same turkey.

John is survived by his wife, Gail Horton Ward; their children, John, Andrew and Emily Ward; his beloved grandchildren, Milly and Javon; and his younger sister, Jeannie. John was predeceased by his parents; his sister, Joan; and his brother, Jimmy.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the internment service at Oak Hill Cemetery in Winterport on Wednesday, June 10, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Deacon Michael Whalen officiating. Those who wish to remember John may make gifts to Winterport Fire Department, 44 Main St., Winterport, ME 04496. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.