John Christopher STEPHENSON

FUNERAL HOME

Dempsey & Forrest

208 Guyton St

Wanganui, Manawatu-Wanganui

John STEPHENSON Obituary

Died peacefully on Monday, 16 February 2026, surrounded by family, aged 84 years. Loved husband of Diana for 58 years. Proud Dad of Tim, David, James, Garrick, Bevan, and Belinda. Loving Grandad to 15 grandchildren. Friends are invited to a celebration of John's life, to be held in the Forrest Lawn Chapel, 208 Guyton Street, Whanganui at 10.00am on Saturday, 21 February 2026. John's service will be webcast and can be viewed at www.dempseyandforrest.co.nz 'Watch Services Online'.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Post on Feb. 19, 2026.

Memories and Condolences
for John STEPHENSON

3 Entries

Michael Shaw

February 20, 2026

Mr Stephenson was my accounting teacher in the mid 1980s. His teaching started my accounting career which included working for 5 ministers of the Crown (tax adviser), a senior partner at one of the 4 big accounting firms and now a partner in one of the most influential tax practices in NZ. John was an amazing person and teacher, very sad to hear the news and I wish I could have made it to his funeral. I owe him much for what I achieved.

How you can show support

Send flowers

Consider sending flowers.

Add photos

Share their life with photo memories.

Plant trees

Honor them by planting trees in their memory.

Share this page

Invite other friends and family to visit the page.

Maree Cairns

February 19, 2026

Diana and family, I'm so very very sorry to hear about Johns passing. Please know I'm sending my love and heartfelt condolences to you all.

Lindsay Benbrook

February 19, 2026

My condolences to Diana and family. Way back in June 1966, John Chris was heading to Wanganui from Auckland for Queen's Birthday Weekend and asked if I wanted to travel with him. Our family had shifted from Wanganui to Auckland the previous month. John Chris and I headed off late afternoon in atrocious weather and started our way down the Parapara's south of Raetihi. The road was closed due to slips so we headed back to Raetihi but had to stop to top up the radiator in his Mark 1 Zephyr from a roadside creek. We stopped for a toilet break at Mangaweka but when I got back to the car, John Chris was not to be seen. His snoring gave it away as he was buried under all his clothes on the back seat. We finally arrived in Wanganui at 6.30am, 10 hours after leaving Auckland. Great memories that will stay with me. R I P John Chris

Showing 1 - 3 of 3 results

Memorial Events
for John STEPHENSON

To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one.

Funeral services provided by: