Services
Obituary
At 5:30 a.m., on Sunday, April 16, 2023 Justin Paul Hill aka Justin Kealapono Hill, 46, of Mesa, Arizona passed away peacefully holding his wife in his arms after suffering an aneurysm on Easter Sunday. Justin chose to give the gift of life and become an organ and tissue donor changing the lives of over 100 people.
A Celebration of Life for Justin Hill will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 13, 2023 at the Ewing Funeral Home, 178 Center Street West, Britt, Iowa with Rev. Jason Semans officiating. There will be an informal gathering of family and friends prior to the service, beginning at 10:30 a.m.
CLICK HERE to join live broadcast of Justin Kealapono Hill Memorial ServiceJustin, the son of Earl W. and Marlys R. (Alne) Hill, was born May 17, 1976 in Britt, Iowa. He joined a sister, Michelle Marie, and was followed by a brother, Clinton Manley.
Justin was united in marriage with Tammy Jane Hook on October 12, 1995, in Mont Eagle, TN. The couple was blessed with four children.
Justin graduated from Kanawha Christian School in 1990 and from Forest City Christian School in 1994. He continued his education at Belmont University, Nashville, TN, where he studied Philosophy and Music Business. He later continued his education studying Hawaiian Studies and earning an AA in 2018 at Leeward Community College, Waianae, HI, and Windward Community College, Kaneohe, HI. Justin studied Political Science at the University of Hawaii-West Oahu graduating in 2019 with a BA in Social Sciences with a concentration in Political Science (with distinction). He studied Indigenous Education at Arizona State University graduating with a MA in 2021. At the time of death, he was working on his PhD.
Justin started his writing career at The Britt-News Tribune as Sports Editor, he ultimately was sought out by The Hampton Chronicle for a position there as Managing Sports Editor. Justin won several awards from The Iowa Newspaper Association for his personal interest stories and photography. Justin’s sports photos were published throughout the Hancock County area in the Forest City Summit, the Garner Leader and the Kanawha Reporter. He continued to write after his time in newspapers and was currently co-writing a book on the Hawaiian Kingdom.
At the time of his death, Justin was executive Assistant to Dr. Bryan McKinley Jones Brayboy, the Vice President of Social Advancement/Senior Advisor to President Michael M. Crow/President’s Professor at Arizona State University (November 2021—Present). He was an executive assistant for the Journal of the Native American Indigenous Student Association (NAISA). He was the managing editor at the Journal of American Indian Education—ASU (June 2021—Present) He was a Board Member of Malama Makua, on the Leeward Coast of O’ahu, near the foothills of the Waianae mountains, Waianae, Hawaii.
During their life together, Justin and Tammy lived in Nashville, TN; Clarksville, TN; Britt, IA; Hampton, IA; Maili, HI; and Mesa, AZ.
Justin is survived by his wife, Tammy Jane Hill; two daughters, Christie Earley, Mesa, AZ, and Angel Jane Hill (Nick Davidson) of McCleary, WA; two sons, Aspen Paul Hill, and Alex Christian Hill (fiancé: Kayla Durfee) of Mesa, Arizona; two grandchildren, Eirik and Kai Davidson, McCleary, WA; his parents, Earl and Marlys Hill of Britt, IA; his mother-in-law, Pam Hook and his father-in-law, Jim Hook, both of Mesa, AZ; a sister, Michelle (Joe) Schara of Kouts, IN; and a brother, Clinton (Naomi) Manley Hill, a nephew, Oscar Hill, and a niece, Ariana Hill, all of Belfast, Northern Ireland, along with many other extended family and friends.