John "Jack" DECHRISTOPHER

DECHRISTOPHER
John “Jack”
John DeChristopher, affectionately known as Papa/Jack, passed away peacefully on November 14, 2016, surrounded by his loving family at Foundation Park Nursing Home. He was born on October 20, 1930 in Toledo, Ohio and was the son of the late Richard and Dorothy (McCarthy) DeChristopher.
John graduated from Central Catholic High School. He was employed most of his adult life with AP Parts/Questor Corporation, retiring in 1985 after a long and successful career. John was a multi-talented man. He had many interests outside of work and as his brother Ted said he was a “Jack” of all trades. When his two sons were in grade school he bought a house in Maumee that had an attached business. In an attempt to finance his son's potential college education, he turned the attached business into an ice cream shop affectionately named De's Freeze. This quickly became a staple of Maumee. John loved to sew, and later became an accomplished tailor as well as an upholsterer. He brought life back to old furniture, making it look beautiful and new again. But his greatest love came when he was performing on stage for Friar Tucks (Villagers). John had a beautiful voice and loved to sing and act. This kept him busy during his retirement years both in Maumee and in Venice, Florida where he resided for six months out of the year.
John married Betty Orange and together they raised two sons, David and Daniel. John is survived by his wife of 26 years, Patricia; son, David; daughter-in-law, Ellen; Joe and Deann Schiavone, Patti and Bob Jacobs; grandchildren, Ryan and Jeff Vallandingham, Allie and Ben Batey, Kari and Brian Boos, Keli Jacobs, Nick Schiavone, Jaimee Schiavone; three beautiful great-grandchildren, Xavier, Eve, Reagan and one on the way; siblings, Raymond (Judy), Ted (Cathy), Kathie Gunner; many nieces and nephews; a very special apprentice, Randy Leck and his two favorite fuzzy friends, Sadi and Kadi. John was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Betty; son, Daniel, and siblings, Richard, Joseph and Mary Ann Jones.
Friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life Memorial and Luncheon on December 2, 2016 at 11:00 a.m., at St. Paul Episcopal Church in Maumee, Ohio. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Toledo Repertory Theatre or the Maumee Senior Center.
As published in The Blade