John Hauck

John R. Hauck, Jr., was born on November 23, 1946 to Jack and Joan Hauck and lived in so many places we lost track, but mostly laid claim to Sarasota, Florida, with his final stop in O’fallon, MO. John passed away on November 30, 2024. His death from Alzheimer’s was unexpected, as we all thought we would succumb to one of his falls off the back of a boat and get run over years ago. 

John is survived by his wife Lura, brother Steve and sister Leslie. He is also survived by his beloved daughters, son, son in laws, and grandchildren who are Laura and Craig Stevens – children Lindsay and Kyle, Jenifer and Brian Brannock – children Hayley, Reese, Reagan, and Taylor, Kelly and Kenny Brannock – children Brendan and Tanner, Corrie and Bruce Gibbs – children Sarah, Caroline, Taylor and Addison, and Kevin and Nichole Deptula – children Hunter and Ella. He loved all of them but the Florida Gators, Crown Royal, a good cigar, his Baja 33 outlaw, getting invited to go duck hunting, making President’s Club, or driving his BMW might have ranked right up there with them too, depending on the day.

John graduated from the University of Florida with a PhD in Business Management achieving magna cum laude honors, couldn’t come to contract terms with the Chicago White Sox after his senior year, so he joined the Navy and drove battleships, raised 3 daughters, and got a sales job where he sold more copiers, for more gross profit, than any man alive, in any territory he ever worked.

John will be missed dearly by all that knew him. He was an incredible man that lived a life of excitement and adventure. He had an unparalleled zest for life, an infectious laugh, and always new just the right time to tell a mildly inappropriate knock knock joke about some guy named Emerson. From standing on a bridge in the Keys in the middle of a hurricane, to skiing down the steepest run in Keystone, to doing hair pin turns in his power boats that the warning sticker clearly says not to do, just so he could show us he could, and then give us that “What, What?” reply with a shoulder shrug and a chuckle. He taught us that all the really good, fun things in life are beyond the “Caution” signs or ropes. But when he was acting normal, he always put his family first – his selflessness was beyond reproach. He will live on in our hearts, minds, thoughts, prayers, stories and laughs forever.Well-wishers are encouraged to have a drink in his honor. And remember to live life to the fullest and laugh, don’t take life too seriously, and if the person next to you doesn’t like it …. who cares?

Viewing for Family and close friends will be at Baue Cave Springs on December 17th at 10:30am, Services at 11:30am, and Burial at Jefferson Barracks at 1:30pm. Drinks in John’s honor at Village Bar and Grill in Des Peres at approximately 2:30pm.