John Thomas Ferguson passed away on January 1, 2026. He was born in Newton, Iowa, on June 8, 1949, the son of John W. Ferguson and Jeannette K. Tiedje Ferguson, and the beloved brother of three sisters—Sue Dunscombe, Johnna Cashill, and Sally Hannawacker.
From the very beginning, John lived life on his own terms—always with a smile, a joke, and good cheer. A man full of energy and optimism, John embraced adventure at every turn, whether hitchhiking across the United States as a young man, serving in the Navy, or later tackling life’s projects, passions, and pickleball games with fierce determination. Friends and family knew him as creative, positive, and impossibly quick with a laugh—someone who could turn any ordinary moment into a story, a challenge, or a reason to celebrate.
A free spirit from the start, John’s adventurous streak carried him through life, even when paired with his time in the Navy. Whether on the highway or in uniform, he approached life with positivity, and endless creativity. These experiences—spontaneous exploration and structured service—shaped the man he became.
John earned a degree in Engineering from the University of Colorado and was truly a jack of all trades. His career eventually led him to City Planning with the City of Aurora, where his creativity, experience and charisma left a lasting mark.
John’s passions evolved over the years, and his optimism never faded. He had many adventures from sailing to rock climbing, ceramics to welding—often incorporating many elements into beautiful, large-scale sculptures, one of which can still be found close to where he spent his childhood.
His final—and perhaps most beloved—passion was pickleball. On the court, John was famously competitive and undeniably tough, always convinced he still had “one more good game left,” regardless of age, aching joints, or the score. He played hard, talked a little trash, laughed a lot, and never missed a chance to remind opponents that experience counts for something.
John loved making people laugh and smile. His sense of humor was legendary—often a little naughty, sometimes perfectly inappropriate, and almost always delivered with impeccable timing (depending on who you asked). He deeply loved dogs, admired their loyalty, and rarely passed one without stopping to say hello. He was supportive and steadfast with those he loved and determined in everything he did.
Even in the final months of his life, John faced each day with courage, humor, and a relentless positive outlook, finding joy in small moments, sharing laughs with friends and family, and never letting life’s difficulties dim his spirit.
John is survived by his sister, Johnna Cashill; his children, Heather Sorensen and Baylen Ferguson; his grandchildren, Kade Sorensen, Liliah Ferguson, Olivia Ferguson, and Kinsley Sorensen; and his beloved nieces and nephews—all of whom carry forward his humor, strength and spark.
True to who he was, John did not want a somber goodbye. He wanted his life celebrated—with laughter, stories, and maybe a little friendly competition. A Celebration of Life will be held on March 21, 2026, with more details to follow.
John’s legacy lives on in the things he created, the people he loved, and the many pickleball games he refused to lose. He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.
*Rest easy, John. May your serves remain unstoppable, your rallies long, and your score forever just one point higher.*
From the very beginning, John lived life on his own terms—always with a smile, a joke, and good cheer. A man full of energy and optimism, John embraced adventure at every turn, whether hitchhiking across the United States as a young man, serving in the Navy, or later tackling life’s projects, passions, and pickleball games with fierce determination. Friends and family knew him as creative, positive, and impossibly quick with a laugh—someone who could turn any ordinary moment into a story, a challenge, or a reason to celebrate.
A free spirit from the start, John’s adventurous streak carried him through life, even when paired with his time in the Navy. Whether on the highway or in uniform, he approached life with positivity, and endless creativity. These experiences—spontaneous exploration and structured service—shaped the man he became.
John earned a degree in Engineering from the University of Colorado and was truly a jack of all trades. His career eventually led him to City Planning with the City of Aurora, where his creativity, experience and charisma left a lasting mark.
John’s passions evolved over the years, and his optimism never faded. He had many adventures from sailing to rock climbing, ceramics to welding—often incorporating many elements into beautiful, large-scale sculptures, one of which can still be found close to where he spent his childhood.
His final—and perhaps most beloved—passion was pickleball. On the court, John was famously competitive and undeniably tough, always convinced he still had “one more good game left,” regardless of age, aching joints, or the score. He played hard, talked a little trash, laughed a lot, and never missed a chance to remind opponents that experience counts for something.
John loved making people laugh and smile. His sense of humor was legendary—often a little naughty, sometimes perfectly inappropriate, and almost always delivered with impeccable timing (depending on who you asked). He deeply loved dogs, admired their loyalty, and rarely passed one without stopping to say hello. He was supportive and steadfast with those he loved and determined in everything he did.
Even in the final months of his life, John faced each day with courage, humor, and a relentless positive outlook, finding joy in small moments, sharing laughs with friends and family, and never letting life’s difficulties dim his spirit.
John is survived by his sister, Johnna Cashill; his children, Heather Sorensen and Baylen Ferguson; his grandchildren, Kade Sorensen, Liliah Ferguson, Olivia Ferguson, and Kinsley Sorensen; and his beloved nieces and nephews—all of whom carry forward his humor, strength and spark.
True to who he was, John did not want a somber goodbye. He wanted his life celebrated—with laughter, stories, and maybe a little friendly competition. A Celebration of Life will be held on March 21, 2026, with more details to follow.
John’s legacy lives on in the things he created, the people he loved, and the many pickleball games he refused to lose. He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.
*Rest easy, John. May your serves remain unstoppable, your rallies long, and your score forever just one point higher.*
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