We are deeply saddened by the news of the passing of John A. Woller Sr., 84, of Decatur, Ala., the Founder of Summit Treestands, on Sunday March 24, 2019.

John A. Woller Sr., of Decatur, Ala., the Founder of Summit Treestands.

Born on January 23, 1935, in Chicago, Ill., to Norwegian immigrants Johan and Ingeborg Engvik Woller, John served in the Marine Corps and graduated with a mechanical engineering degree at Auburn University, before working on the Apollo and Saturn projects at NASA. He married Patricia Palmer Haddock in the summer of 1957. He eventually founded the company Dyna-Tech, which specialized in numerically controlled machining, and then worked at Amoco Chemicals for 18 years.

“Big John,” as he became known by his peers, coworkers and friends, discovered his passion for the outdoors and archery especially after moving to Alabama, and was a highly competitive archer, winning the Alabama State Archery Championship in 1965. John even collaborated with Early Hoyt and others on several bow designs.

He combined his passions of engineering and bowhunting when he began designing and building portable treestands for hunters that were safer and less damaging to trees than anything else available at the time. His creations were so innovative that John and his sons founded Summit Treestands in 1981. Their work in treestand design and safety revolutionized an entire industry of manufacturers and saved countless hunters from injury over the years since. John later served as a leader and President of the Treestand Manufacturers Association.

A creative, energetic and caring man, John was very active in his church and his community, and was given many awards over the years for his involvement and service. Despite his many accolades and hobbies, John’s most important investment was his family. He is survived by his wife, Pat; by his four children, John Jr. (Suzanne), Ronald (Melinda), Will (Kay), and Janet; by 11 grandchildren, Joseph Palmer (Lauren), John III (Valerie), Caroline (Nick), Leta, David, Sarah Catherine, Margit Patricia, William, Llewellyn, Margaret, and Leah Palmer; and by two great-grandchildren, Emilia and Abigail. 

A memorial service was held Wednesday, March 27, at the Central United Methodist Church in Decatur, Ala.