John was born in 1976 here in [town redacted for privacy], just 20 miles south of where we are now. From his earliest years, his life was filled with joy and love. Even though he lost his mother when he was just 5 years old, he was surrounded by a family who loved him dearly. He also had a close relationship with his daddy, who he remained utterly close with throughout his life. He told [his father] Hank “you know you’re my best friend in this whole wide world, don’t you?” I never saw a father and son who were as trusting of each other as they were. As John grew up, Hank instilled in him the values of hard work, dedication, and compassion.

John was a man of profound faith. He was a dedicated Christian, and as many of you know, a very active pillar of our local church here. I cannot overemphasize how much his faith was an essential part of his life. Aside from Hank, his relationship with Jesus was what got him through his mother’s death in his childhood. He once told me a story from his early childhood, about how on a dark and rainy night, he laid sobbing in bed, wishing his mother was there to kiss him goodnight. His sobs increased until he felt utterly defeated and alone.

As he laid in bed sniffling and whimpering, John remembered a scripture his mother had once read to him before bedtime. His dad later told him that this happened to be her favorite verse in the Bible. The verse was from John 16:22: “Ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.” The only part John remembered was “I will see you again.” This simple scripture filled John’s little heart with peace. He started crying again, and then it was as if he heard a voice saying, “John, she is with me, and when I come again, she will be with me.” John somehow knew this was the voice of Jesus speaking to him about Lily [his mother]. From that day forward, he lived for Jesus and strove to be worthy to see his mother with Jesus when He comes again. Strange as it may be, now it’s me who’s finding comfort in this verse.

He lived his life according to the values he learned from the Bible and in the church. Everyone knew he had an impeccable integrity. His major fault was preaching too much. People used to call him “Preacher John” whenever they saw him in the store or at work. They even teased him in high school by calling him “Jesus Johnny.” Even when people told him to drop it and leave them alone, he always persisted in at least “silently” preaching by leaving Bibles in the desks at school with bookmarks of his favorite passages, pasting little sticky notes on the fridge at work with Bible verses on them, or just wearing shirts that said something about Jesus on them. I actually think John enjoyed hearing people call him “preacher,” even though he was not really one. He just loved sharing the Good News with others, and tried to help others live so that they too could know Jesus. He was never overbearing or rude, but very passionate and eager to share the gospel.

As so many of you witnessed firsthand, he shared his love and kindness with everyone around him. He volunteered at the local food bank and organized charity drives for the less fortunate and homeless in our community. John firmly believed in the power of giving back, and made it a point to make a positive impact wherever he could. He told me that preaching words without setting an example was useless and hypocritical.

Everyone who knew John always called him a family man. His love for his family was evident in everything he did. He adored his wife Natalie, who was one year older than him, and he cherished their two children Nathaniel and Henry. Nathaniel has always excelled in school, and John was so proud of him. Although Henry struggled in school, John never lost faith in him and continued to support him in every way possible. He spent countless hours helping his boys with their homework, taking them to football practice, and attending all their games. I know some of the guys at work used to tease him about never getting out and having any fun, and he used to respond to them by saying, “Fellas, what good is all the fun in life if I don’t enjoy it with my family?”

John worked as an electrician, spending long hours on the job, often repairing transformers and ensuring that our community had the power it needed. Despite the demands of his job, he always found time for his family and loved playing football with his boys, or taking them to the pond next to our workplace and feeding the fish. He also took peculiar pleasure in taking care of his home, which was always in immaculate condition. He made sure to mow the yard every week, and his attention to detail showed in the way he kept everything neat and organized.

John also had a wonderful love for animals, especially dogs. He loved spending time with his furry friends, and seemed to have had a special way of connecting with them. His kind and gentle nature was evident in the way he treated all creatures, great and small. I even remember him befriending a lost cat outside our workplace one day and taking it to nearby neighbor who had many cats and loved to have more. She was very happy that someone like him was around to make sure these critters found a home instead of just wandering around hungry and alone. In recent years, John’s love for animals extended beyond his personal life as well, as he often volunteered at local animal shelters and even donated to animal rescue organizations.

Despite all of his wonderful qualities, as with all of us, he also faced serious challenges in his life, including an intense battle with alcohol addiction when he was a young man. He had a friend who invited him to an after-school party which turned out to be a very ill-advised get-together. This became a monumental challenge for several years of his early adult life that he was afraid he would never get past. However, his dad’s perseverance and persistence with young Johnny helped him finally come to terms with the fact that he needed help, and reminded him of what he was really made of. Through great effort, he eventually overcame this challenge, and it made him a stronger person. He was an inspiration to others who were struggling, and he was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. He attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and mentored others who were trying to overcome addiction. John was a beacon of hope for those who felt lost or alone.

As many of you know, John’s exemplary life was tragically cut short in a car accident, and it’s going to be very difficult to imagine our community without him. But we can take comfort in the memories we shared with him and the impact he made in each of our lives. His legacy lives on through his loving family, his work, and the kindness he shared with everyone he met.

John’s family would like to express their gratitude to the community for their outpouring of love and support during this difficult time. They would like to thank the first responders who were on the scene of the accident and worked tirelessly to try and save John’s life. They would also like to thank the medical staff at the hospital who provided exceptional care for John during his final days. Their kindness and dedication made this nightmare more bearable, and they showed great compassion to John and his family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in John’s memory to the American Cancer Society, as cancer research was another cause that was very important to him.

John’s impact on his family and this community are immeasurable, and his legacy and example will continue to inspire us all. He lived his life with kindness, compassion, and a deep commitment to his faith, and he left a lasting impression on everyone he met.

In closing, I would like to share a quote from John’s favorite book, the Bible. In the Gospel of John, it says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John’s life was a testament to this kind of love, and we are all blessed to have known him. Rest in peace, John, and know that you will be deeply missed.