FATHER John Ward was the parish priest of Kalamunda for 11 years and was remembered at a funeral service honoured by the attendance of hundreds from the wider community.

Fr John was involved in a number of community activities, being particularly enthusiastic about the Mundy Regional Park course of the ParkRun community events.

He was known for representing a number of different Christian churches, working together with priests, ministers and pastors of other denominations.

Fr John facilitated the process of bringing the parish of Lesmurdie and the parish of Kalamunda together into the parish of Kalamunda-Lesmurdie.

He then oversaw services at both St Barnabas and St Swithun’s Church.

Parish of Kalamunda-Lesmurdie assistant curate Grahame Bowland said Fr John was well respected by many.

“John was very well known and well regarded in the area, and I’ve been moved by how many people beyond the immediate church community have been coming to the church to pay their respects at the prayer services we have held after his death,” he said.

“We estimate that 350 people attended.

“In his time in the parish John served the community with kindness and generosity.

“It wasn’t unusual for John to take a baptism, a funeral, or a wedding having met a family while out walking his dogs, or when people came into the op-shop.”

Fr John was born on May 4, 1962, in Morawa and grew up on the family wheat and sheep farm.

He studied zoology at the University of Western Australia.

It was during his university years that he found God.

Fr John met his future wife Julie Ward at Youth Synod, and it was through their committee meetings that they got to know each other.

In 1986 they married, and it was around that time Fr John felt a calling to the ordained ministry.

He completed a bachelor of divinity and was ordained deacon and priest in 1991 by Archbishop Peter Carnley.

His first role was as the mission priest, attached to the parish of Rockingham-Safety Bay, to start a church community in the rapidly growing suburb of Warnbro.

The success of St Brendan’s by the Sea, Warnbro, meant a lot to Fr John.

Over the years, he had been involved in parishes in Fremantle, Belmont, Yokine, Yanchep, Heathridge and finally Kalamunda-Lesmurdie.

Later, his work as Archdeacon of Sudanese Ministry was immensely satisfying to him and led to life-long friends and many fond memories of joyful worship.

A gifted artist, Fr John encouraged others to create visual expressions of Christian experience.

He also served on the board of the Mandorla Art Award for a number of years.

On August 2, Fr John was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer and was admitted to SJOG Midland for pain relief and to deal with other cancer related issues.

After a week, he went home for nine days, during which he started chemotherapy to slow the spread of the cancer.

However, the cancer spread aggressively, and he was taken back to hospital by ambulance on August 19.

Fr John died peacefully during the night of August 20, leaving behind Mrs Ward, their three children and their partners, and two grandchildren.