John Gerald Durst

John Gerald Durst, age 80, of Roseville, Ohio, passed away on Monday, May 6, 2024, at his home in the care of in-home hospice.
Catholic by faith, he was born on November 21, 1943, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the second child of the late Henry Joseph and Margaret Ryan Durst. He attended The Church of the Atonement (Roman Catholic) in Crooksville, Ohio.
In 1982, he married the love of his life, Valerie Ann (Ross) Durst, who survives him. John passed away two days shy of his and Valerie's 42nd wedding anniversary; also surviving are his children: Carin J. Taylor (Daril J. Tharp), Carrie J. Edwards (Aaron Ellis), Jeffrey M. Durst, Jackie A. Cox; his grandson/son that he raised from birth, McKinley E.J. North (Summer Smith); and a "bonus" son, Tim (Raeanna) Sagle.
He is also survived by his grandchildren: Steven C. Taylor (Jordan Smith), Kevin D. Taylor, Dylan L. Taylor, Eathen M. Tharp, Skylar J. Tharp (Han Kim), Christina Thompson, Drake Durst, Joshua (Jackie) Sullivan, Jessica (Mike) Gustafson, Jodi (John) Barnes, Jillian (Ryan) McNeal, Jessica (Chad) DeMattei; and several great and great great grandchildren, including Huxley North, the apple of his eye.
John is survived by his brothers and sisters: Henry Durst, Tom (Mary) Durst, Bill (Gina) Durst, Peggy (Jerry) Poepsel, all of Missouri and Maribeth (Chuck Fisk) Durst of Florida.
He is also survived by his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Myra Beisser (Gary Head) of Roseville, Teresa Schultheis of Zanesville, David (Ella Jean) Ross of Fort Wayne, Kimberly (Michael) Hicks of Pickerington, James (Holly) Ross of Blue Rock and Melanie Ross (Paul Ray) of Zanesville; his daughter-in-law Mary "Lynn" Durst; a host of friends, cousins and other relatives in the Ross and Trout families of this area, and Durst, Koch and Ryan families of Wisconsin and Missouri; best friends Joe and Carla Woneymaker and Gary and Lisa Smith; and his mother in law Myrna (Trout) Ross.
In addition to his parents, Henry Joseph and Margaret Ryan Durst; he is preceded in death by his day-old infant son, John Paul Durst (1965); his son James M. "Jim" Durst (2024); his father-in-law Orrin Ross; his brothers-in-law: Michael Ross, Timothy Ross, Kenneth Beisser Sr. and Phil Pryor; his sister-in-law Sophia Durst; and many aunts and uncles.
In his younger years, he, his brothers and friends would build race cars from the ground up. They raced on the streets of St. Louis from midnight until early morning. He loved going fast but eventually grew out of it; but he loved having big engines in his cars, boats and trucks. He would go to the outskirts of St. Louis to hunt which prompted him to buy a big farm when he moved to the Roseville area.
Prior to coming to the Roseville area, John was born in Milwaukee, WI, lived in St. Louis, MO and Pennsylvania. He was transferred to the Nelson McCoy Pottery building by the owner of the business, at which he worked in Pennsylvania. He became foreman there, oversaw building construction, Purchasing Manager, Sales Manager and Vice President. John organized and played on the Nelson McCoy Mens' softball team, organized white water rafting trips and Red Cross blood drives.
He started his own construction company in 1991, specializing in remodeling and additions; after apprenticing with Gary Jenkins Construction, who remains a good friend. He retired in 2005. He and his wife also owned and operated Gobel Hardware in Roseville from 1988 until 2013. John spent two years after his retirement doing major construction projects at his church, The Church of Atonement in Crooksville, along with his men friends from the church. Together they accomplished a great deal to benefit the congregations' needs.
Upon arriving in Roseville in 1972, John bought a large farm, where he raised cattle, horses and made hay off the fields for many years. He loved living in the country where he could ride his horse, Comanche, and four wheelers on his many miles of man-made trails throughout the farm. He and his wife took many long road trips together throughout the USA and Canada.
Calling hours will be held 2 to 4 and 6 to 8PM Friday, May 10, at THE SNOUFFER FUNERAL HOME, 1150 WEST MILITARY ROAD, ZANESVILLE. The funeral service will begin at 10AM Saturday, May 11, in the Snouffer Chapel with Father LeHigh officiating. He will be laid to rest in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery in Crooksville.
To send a note of condolence to the Durst family visit www.snoufferfuneralhome.com, find us on facebook, or call our locally owned caring staff at 740-450-8000.
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