John W. Lightner
03/16/1941 - 08/01/2017
Surrounded by family under a night sky filled with stars and fields of fireflies, we said our goodbyes.
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To know John, was to hear him; loudly and full of life. Dreamer of dreams, hard working, and honest to the core. Manners and kindness mattered to Dad.
His roles were many; Husband, Father, Brother, Son, friend, business owner, trap shooter,
storyteller, fisherman, teacher, airplane enthusiast, happy birthday singer, eater of Wendy's
cookies, protector of his family… but we do believe his favorite role was that of Grandpa, to his
six beautiful grandchildren.
John's family will carry on his zest for life: wife Victoria, daughter Katie (Mike), daughter
Jennifer, son John, son Patric (Wendy), grandchildren Emily, Maxwell, Brandon (Jora &
Wesley), Paige, Sophia, Lizzie, sisters Mary Sue and Jeannie (Mike), nieces and nephews
Danny (Teri & son Kyle), Philip, David (Kris & children Abby, Josh, Sydney, Mitchell), Matt,
Sarah, and Olivia. As a family, we just smile thinking about what surprises lay ahead as we
explore Dad's barn, shop, and sheds of treasures.
John is preceded in death by his mother and father, Rosemary and L'Philip, and daughter
Jennifer (Duffer).
A private celebration will be held in John's honor. In lieu of a funeral service, friends are
encouraged to grab an old Harry Nilsson cassette and sing with the windows down at the top of
their lungs, to the song Everybody's Talkin' -- he would have loved that.
Thank you to The Kathy's Hospice, for your kind, gentle touch and care.
Keep on flying, John.