John Motzkus, a teacher and Anaheim High’s activities director from 1970 to 1996, passed away Feb. 2, 2020, three months short of his 86th birthday.
Following is a tribute provided by his family:
John Ervin Motzkus, beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend, passed away Feb. 2, 2020 in Los Angeles (Eagle Rock), CA. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Nancy Motzkus of Eagle Rock; 2 daughters Melani (David) Carty of Lovettsville, VA and Heidi Motzkus (wife of Steven Fiorillo) of Eagle Rock; 2 grandchildren, Jonathan and Christiana Carty; sister-in-laws Jolene Motzkus of Elkhorn, NE and Shirley Christiansen of Omaha, NE; nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.
Born in Globe, Wisconsin on May 20, 1934, John was preceded in death by parents Rev. Walter A. and Eva (Tolles) Motzkus; brothers Richard and Paul Motzkus; and sisters Ruth Bronder and Lois O’Leary.
John later lived in La Crosse, WI; Leigh, NE; and Omaha, NE where he graduated from Omaha South High in 1951 and the University of Nebraska, Omaha in 1955.
He also lived in San Francisco for a few months in 1955 while awaiting the draft. He was in the Army at Monteith Kesserne near Nuremberg, Germany in 1956-57.
In April, 1960 John married Nancy Christiansen in Omaha, NE. They met in an English history class at UNO in 1958 as John had gone back to college for a teaching credential after the Army. He taught at Ashland Park School in Omaha in 1960-61. Then he and Nancy moved to Southern California pulling a U-Haul trailer west on Old Route 66 with no air conditioning!
They landed in Santa Ana, CA in Aug. 1961, and John taught at McFadden Jr. High (1961-62). The following year he took a teaching position at Savannah High School (1962-70) in the Anaheim Union High School District.
In 1969 John earned a M.A. degree in Social Studies and a M.S. degree in School Administration from California State University, Fullerton, CA and transferred to Anaheim High School where he was Activities Director and teacher from 1970-96.
John was President of the Anaheim Secondary Teachers Association (ASTA) in 1971-72. He was an inspiration to so many of his teaching colleagues. His legacy of work and advocacy for issues of fairness and decency made a real impact on teachers and students.
He retired from the AUHSD in 1996 after 37 years of teaching in CA. He continued with the district after retirement teaching English as a Second Language at Trident Adult Education Center. He loved teaching adult education. He also loved ballroom dancing, writing, drawing, poetry, chess, ping-pong, and cooking his favorite meals for the family. He was an admirer of Mark Twain and Willie Nelson.
John and Nancy lived in Orange County for 53 years before moving from Anaheim Hills, CA to Los Angeles County in 2014.
John was cremated and his ashes will be scattered at the Headwaters of the Missouri River in Montana along with the ashes of his beloved dog, Ike. His grace, humor, knowledge and loving nature will be sorely missed.
Memorial donations may be made to The Braille Institute at their Anaheim or Los Angeles locations.
