John Hodge Layer, 55
John Hodge Layer, 55, "entered into eternal rest with his Lord and Savior" on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. John was born in Mountain Home, Idaho, to William H. and Donna Linde Layer on March 13, 1954, the second child of seven. He moved to Mount Prospect, Ill., in 1955, undergoing area elementary and secondary schools. He graduated from Prospect High School in 1972. John was noted for his love of and involvement in wrestling throughout school into college.
He attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering in 1976. He worked briefly as an engineer for Texaco prior to going to medical school at Southern Illinois University Medical School, graduating with an M.D. in 1980. He practiced internal medicine in Lacrosse, Wis., Chippewa Falls, Wis., and Kalispell.
John met the love of his life, Peggy Pounds, in 1975, and was married in 1976. He and Peggy raised four wonderful children, Jennifer, Kelly, Andrew and Natalie.
John was a committed leader and dedicated family man who jumped at the chance to help those in need, physically or spiritually. He was greatly compassionate, a cheerful giver, and a teacher who gave instructions from his life's lessons. He enjoyed the outdoors with his extended family, attended Bible study, and stayed active, skiing, hiking, canoeing, playing hockey, ice-boating, waterskiing, scuba diving, woodworking and reading. One of John's favorite ministries was to distribute many copies of cherished books. John was also a gifted letter writer, always poignant and heartfelt.
His last few years were overwhelmed with chronic pain, necessitating his retirement from the practice of medicine, which he dearly loved, in 2005.
He is survived at the family home by his wife, Peggy; also by his beloved grown children, Jennifer and Todd Leavitt of Royal Oak, Mich., Kelly and Andy Miller of Saint Paul, Minn., Andrew and Abigail Layer of Hamtramck, Mich., and Natalie and Spencer Mayhew of Kalispell; his parents, Bud and Donna Layer, of Janesville, Wis.; brothers and sisters, and in-laws, Karen and Greg Nelson, Jeffrey and Lisa Layer, Jim and Lesli Layer, Meg and Tim Coughlin, Bill and Masa Layer, and Jeryl and Frank Alford; and numerous nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, extended family and close friends. He was deeply loved and respected and will be dearly missed.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Rachel and Nils Linde, and Hazel and Hugo Layer.
Memorial services for Dr. Layer will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, at Crossroads Christian Fellowship, 7463 Montana Highway 35, in Bigfork. A second memorial service will be held at a future date in Chippewa Falls, Wis.
The family request donations in John's name be made to the Flathead Valley Chemical Dependency Clinic, 1312 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell, MT 59901; or to the Salvation Army Medical Clinic, P.O. Box 8357, Kalispell, MT 59901.
You are invited to go to www.buffalohillfh.com to leave your condolences or sign John's book. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.
This paid obituary is being run again at the request of the family.