Kenneth John

Kenneth Craig John

Services celebrating the life of Kenneth Craig John will be held on Saturday, January 5, 2013 at First Presbyterian Church in the Chapel at 11 am. Officiating will be Reverend Rhodes Stipp. Private burial will be held at a later date. There will be a reception following the service in the church parlor. Visitation will be held from 4 pm to 7 pm Friday, January 4, 2013 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home on Marshall Street. Kenneth Craig John was born March 20, 1958 in Kansas City, Missouri to Russel Clarence John and Donna Sue Thompson. He passed from this life into Heaven on January 1, 2013. Ken graduated from Northeast High School in Kansas City, Missouri in 1976 in the top 1% of his class. He was an active member of the Boys Scouts of America Troup 651 CHO, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. He loved and valued that ranking. He was so proud of Marshall, his son, and all his ranks in the Boy Scouts. His father, Russel was employed by KCS and the family traveled and lived in Colorado, Hawaii and eventually ending up in Shreveport, LA, when his father was transferred. Ken completed a year at the University of Missouri at Columbia, and transferred to Louisiana State University in Shreveport and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. While at LSUS, he was a proud member of the Kappa Alpha Order. He was very proud of our son, Marshall, who was just inducted into Kappa Alpha Order at Louisiana Tech in Ruston, LA. Ken became a member of First Presbyterian Church in 1991 when he was joined in marriage to Margaret Marshall, but his true religious roots were founded in Bailes Baptist Church in Kansas City. When he met Margaret in 1991, through friends, their life changed for the better. They took a wonderful honeymoon to England and Paris and dined in the Eiffel Tower and saw the shows at the Moulin Rouge. He loved to travel, going to Las Vegas and taking road trips. He was always ready to go with us no matter where or how far it was. He was an active dad, watching Marshall play T-Ball to high school baseball, Peewee Football to high school football, soccer, and lacrosse. Wherever Marshall was playing, Ken was in the stands not only cheering Marshall on, but his teammates as well.

Ken was a proud member of the Captain Shreve Gridiron club and worked the chains at many games. Ken was also a member of the Plantation Club and was proud to see Marshall presented in 2012.

Before Ken started his business, he worked at Triplex, Roadway, and finally ending up at KCS as a foreman and operator. Ken left KCS to start his own business, Dixie Orthodontic Laboratory. Ken was a very proud of his 24 years and extremely grateful to Dr. Benjamin Foster who helped him start his Orthodontic Business. He took pride in his work and quality was always number one with Ken.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Russel John and Donna Sue. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Marshall John and their son, his pride and joy, Marshall Kenneth John of Shreveport, LA. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Jonnie Sandifer Marshall of Shreveport, his aunt, Betty Hemmer of Olathe, KS, her daughter Donna Finter and husband Richard of AZ, uncle Jerry and his wife Shirley John of Minneapolis, MN, many cousins, and sweet friends. Honoring Ken as pallbearers will be: Mark Denham, Stan Gorham, Randy Hamaker, Terry Ivey, Mark Prevot, Tim Sparks and Kevin Taylor.

The family would like to thank Shreveport Fire Department, Bossier City Fire Department Chaplin, Caddo Parish Sheriff's Department and all of our dear friends and relatives. Ken was a sweet, gentle, caring soul that loved unconditionally; we are at peace knowing he is in Heaven with his parents, grandparents, and father-in-law, Kenneth Sentell Marshall. We ask for your thoughts and prayers through this very difficult time.

The family suggests that memorials may be made in Ken's memory to Boys Scouts of America 3508 Beverly Place, Shreveport, LA 71104, American Diabetes Association 1701 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria VA 22311 or Kappa Alpha Order at Louisiana Tech University 214 Westwood Drive, Ruston, LA 71270.