Archived Services

John Peter Wallace Jr.
07-29-2022

John Peter Wallace Jr., age 49, passed peacefully in his home on July 29, 2022. John (or his preferred JP - unless he was in trouble as he would always say), was a great man who loved and poured his entire being into his community.

JP’s legacy began at the age of 15, when he was introduced to the martial arts, perfecting his art and mastery of Taekwondo. In 1997 he opened his school, beginning its roots in the Brandon Fire Hall, growing and merging into Tiger Academy operating in Brandon, Sioux Falls, and Hartford.

In 2015, JP became a part of the coaching team PEAK, coaching athletes to both national and international levels of competition. In 2017, he joined forces with his wife, Lisa Nafziger-Wallace, to build a dream to reach children and families in area communities, offering whole person wellness incorporating mental health into after-school and summer camp programming for the youth in the region. The merging of Tiger Academy into Peak Performance Training Center exemplified JP’s application of the tenets of his passion of Taekwondo. On June 23, 2019 he married his wife Lisa J. Nafziger-Wallace. In 2020, he completed his Masters of Social Work degree from the University of Saint Thomas, in St. Paul, Minnesota and expanded the private practice with his wife, Peak Performance Counseling Center.

JP was a leader, protector, and compassionate man, who had love for everyone he encountered. His legacy is carried forward through the multitude of lives forever changed by his passion and work on and off the mat. We are blessed for the years shared with his face engulfing grin, full-bodied laugh, and heart that knew no bounds.

He is survived by his wife, Lisa Nafziger-Wallace, and is the doting father of 5 children: John Peter Wallace III (Shae Gietzen), Lucas David Wallace (Madeline Lesko), Nicholas Andrew Wallace (Taylor Clark), Phoebe Ophelia Wallace (Andrew Heidenreich), and Jalen Michael Nafziger. He was blessed with two grandchildren: Ryker John Wallace and Iralyn Rae Wallace. He is survived by his brother, Arthur Wallace (Dalana Wallace) and niece: Lamara Klug, and nephew: Tristan Wallace, and his mother: Betty Wallace.

Fly sweet my darling.

A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday August 8th, 2022 at St. Michael Parish in Sioux Falls, SD with burial to follow at St. Michael Catholic Cemetery, Sioux Falls, SD. Visitation will be held at Barnett-Lewis Funeral Home on Sunday August 7^th, 2022 from 3-8 p.m.