John Francis McKenna

1961 - 2021

JOHN FRANCIS MCKENNA

February 18, 1961 - May 22, 2021

John Francis McKenna ended his earthly journey late Saturday evening, May 22nd, at home surrounded by his wife and three children. He was 60 years old. He had been fighting stage four pancreatic cancer.

He was born February 18th, 1961, in Bakersfield to Linda and Frank (deceased) McKenna. He met his wife Diana in Kaunas, Lithuania and was married in 1997.

John marched to the beat of his own drum. Early life opportunities led him to work in Brazil and then Belgium where he worked at Catholic Radio & Television Network (CRTN). Prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall, he crossed into then-Communist Lithuania to meet secretly with freedom fighters and smuggle bibles and other religious items to them. When Lithuania declared its independence in 1990, John hosted in his home in Belgium the future political leadership of the country who had left as designator survivors to avoid the Soviet invasion and returned to lead a free nation. He continued his special connection with Lithuania throughout his life. This included a special love of his eventual second set of parents, Algis and Angele, who loved him with special affection as their son-in-law.

During his career with CRTN, John traveled throughout the world producing Catholic documentaries to share across the airwaves of fledgling East European democracies emerging after the fall of Communism. His apostolate did not go unnoticed by diplomats and Catholic leaders in the highest positions leading to him and is colleague Jose Correia having a private audience with then Pope St. John Paull II to relate the fruits of their labor. His travels and enthusiasm for languages led him to learn to speak Spanish, French, Portuguese, Lithuanian, Russian, Dutch, Italian, German and visit a third of the worlds countries.

After marrying his Lithuanian love, John, his wife, and their first two children returned to Bakersfield on December 7th, 1999. One more child would join the McKenna clan. Raising his family became his passion. John returned to school and graduated Cal State Bakersfield with a bachelor's degree in political science. His technical abilities led him from Serban Sound Systems to becoming Network Specialist at the Lamont and Fairfax school district. He held that position until his death.

John embodied moral character and a chivalrous spirit. He loved his Catholic Faith. He was involved in his parish and supported Pro-Life causes. He was a Knight of Columbus. He valued history and appreciated culture. All things that he strove to instill in his children and inspire in others, especially young people. He was involved in the Boy Scouts for more than fifteen years, his own son achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. As a 2nd Amendment advocate, he was a member of Kern Shooting Sports and the California Rifle and Pistol Association. He shared his enthusiasm for dove and upland game hunting with his children.

John was a Renaissance man. He was a beer brewer, a cigar-aficionado, a history buff, a Judo practitioner, fisherman, scuba diver, a bagpipe player, BBQ grill master, gourmet chef, a lasagna crafter, and an ice cream lover. He relished political discourse, could dish a good dad joke, and had a razor wit and keen sense of humor. Coffee helped him sleep. He delighted in Bakersfield's 100-degree weather. And he hated cold weather and going to the gym. He never understood fashion.

John is survived by his wife Diana, his daughters Kristina and Monika, his son Martin, his father-in-law living in Lithuania Algis (Angele, deceased), mother Linda (Frank, deceased), brother Thomas (Bridgette, Conor), brother Edward, sister Maureen Beccari (Antonio, Francesca, Alexander, Antonio, Jr.), and brother Michael.

The McKenna family wishes to thank Hoffman Hospice for their services and outstanding care and comfort they provided John in his last days. Also, a special heartfelt thanks goes out to Rachel Gutierrez who selflessly make herself available to attend to John any hour day or night during his ordeal.

A rosary will be held at St. Francis Church on Wednesday evening, June 2nd at 7:00PM. The funeral mass will be held at St. Francis, Thursday, June 3rd, at 10:00AM. Interment to follow immediately afterward at Greenlawn Southwest Memorial Park, 2739 Panama Lane.

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