John Ambrose passed away peacefully in his home March 26.

John was born Nov 4, 1947 to Betty Jane (Orton) and Frank Anthony Ambrose in Portland. John was the younger child of seven, and at age 4 contracted polio. He was told that he would never walk, run or ride a horse. Thus began John’s well-known ability to defy the odds that life had dealt him.

John was raised in Salem, where he graduated from high school early, with a full academic scholarship. John decided he was tired of school and wanted to see the world. He later moved to Corpus Christie, Texas, but decided he missed the Oregon weather and returned to Burns.

John found employment with the department of transportation of the La Pine/Gilcrest/Bend area, as well as serving on the volunteer fire department. John was adaptable, and took a job at the Crane tomato greenhouse. He later began building fences all over Harney County, finding he had a knack with anything mechanical, and began working in irrigation repair, as a wheel line technician.

John loved a challenge, and participated in the Endurance Riding Race, a three-day, 150-mile trek on horseback across Steens Mountain, of which he placed 17th.

He met the love of his life, Wendy Scott, in 2010. John and Wendy knew they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together, and they married Sept 4, 2011. One of their greatest enjoyments was going fishing and four-wheeling together, and just being with good friends

John is survived by his wife, Wendy Scott-Ambrose; two sons, Mark Ambrose of Redding, Calif. and Scott Ambrose of Las Vegas, Nev.; niece, Darlene Sutherland Hoefs of Tidewater; siblings, Art Ambrose of Portland, Rose Kalin of Portland, MaryAnn Manchine and Betty Smith of Depoe Bay, Carol Chambers of Sunriver, and Dee Fleming of Livonia, Mich.

He was preceded in death by both parents, Frank Ambrose and Betty Orton.

A Celebration of Life memorial service was held April 3 at the home of Roger and Dorothy Williams, where friends and family gathered to remember John’s life.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the John Ambrose Memorial Fund, Umpqua Bank in Burns.