John L. Hancock

Although he was taken from his loved ones too soon, John Hancock took every moment he was given and lived it to the fullest. He was a no frills kind of man who was comfortable in his own skin and more than willing to work hard in whatever task lay before him. John accomplished so many things of which to be proud, but there was nothing that he held in higher esteem than the wife and children he viewed as his greatest blessing. Described as a big, lovable, cuddly bear, he was the rock of his family who had a special way of simply making them feel like everything was okay. Life will never be the same without John here, but his timeless legacy will be carried on by those who follow him. During the decade that is often called the Nifty Fifties, America was transforming before our eyes. Elvis Presley took the world by storm while shows like I Love Lucy entertained us. People wanted big cars in the 1950s, and most cars were decked out in chrome and fins, which grew to outlandish proportions by 1959. It was during this exciting decade that a young couple from Tonyrefail, South Wales, welcomed a healthy baby boy into their hearts and home on October 26, 1958. John was the oldest of three children born to his parents, Denzil F. and June (Nowell) Hancock. Although born in South Wales, he was raised in Saint Johns, Michigan, alongside his sister, Christine, and his brother, Robert. Although Johns father was a coal miner, he primarily worked as a mechanic while his mother was a cook and caregiver for Ingham County Medical Care Facility. In many ways John experienced an upbringing that was reflective of the times. His Welsh ancestry was greatly important to him, and he always recalled his childhood fondly. From a young age John was interested in cars. In fact, he and his father completely rebuilt an old MG engine from the ground up. By the time he was a teen, John was a bit of a rebel who got into everything. He and his best buddies and partners in crime, Roger and Pete, often hung out cooking up pranks to pull on family and friends. John was a student at local schools who completed school through the 11th grade at St. Johns High School. As a young man John served in the United States Navy and was assigned to the Seabees. Although spelled Seabee, the word comes from the initials CB as they were members of the United States Construction Battalion, or CB for short. The Seabees were responsible for building bases, bulldozing, and paving thousands of miles of roadway and airstrips, and accomplishing a myriad of other construction projects needed by the military. Johns time in the service was spent in California during a time of peace. Not to be forgotten during his years as a young man were the births of his daughters, Shelly, Kathy, and Roxanne, who lit up his world. Life was not always easy for John as a single father, but he loved his daughters deeply and did whatever he could for them. When obstacles came his way as a parent, he did his best to overcome them with strength and courage that were a reflection of his character. New and exciting changes were in store for John when his daughter introduced him to the woman with whom he would share the best years of his life. Her name was Linda M. Verner, and they met while in California. After dating for a time they were married on March 15, 1997, in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. Linda had three children of her own, John, Laura, and David, and when John adopted her son, John, there came to be a John Hancock, Jr. He was so proud of their children and loved being with them whenever he could. It was easy to see that there was nothing that was more important to John than his family. In addition to the day he graduated from the Navy, he considered his wedding day to Linda and the births of his three girls to be the greatest days of his life. They were already planning an unforgettable family gathering for Christmas this year that would have been the first time they have gotten together in a long time. With a lifelong interest in cars, it comes as no surprise that John spent his career as a mechanic. For several years he was employed by Casedhole Solutions of Williston, North Dakota. Being a mechanic was not only his work, it was his passion. John simply loved fixing things, and his favorite possessions were his truck and his motorcycle. Watching NASCAR events was another of John's favorite pastimes. He was especially fond of watching the Daytona 500. The last race he was able to attend was the Phoenix 500. John was never one to be concerned with living a flashy lifestyle, rather, he found joy in simple things. His attitude was always positive, and he was continually looking forward. John found true happiness and contentment just being with his family, enjoying his dogs, and spending time at his property in Gaylord. He was also a member of His House Church in Mt. Pleasant. An honorable, hardworking, and caring man, John Hancock was a blessing in the lives of those around him. He was friendly and outgoing with a smile readily available to all who were within his reach. John was genuine, the real deal, and someone who was most comfortable wearing shorts and a T-shirt. He will be deeply missed but never forgotten. John Hancock, of Weidman, died on Tuesday, November 26, 2013, at McClaren Bay Region. Johns family includes his wife, Linda of Weidman; four children, Shelly Haynes of Marana, AZ, Kathy (Neil) Murphy of La Mesa, CA, Roxanne Hancock of Poway, CA and John L. (Samantha) Hancock Jr. of Weidman; two stepchildren, Laura of Escandido, CA and David of Poway, CA; seven grandchildren; mother, June Hancock of Weidman; sister, Christine (Richard) Moon of Weidman; brother Rob (Diane) Hancock of Glenburn, ND; and several nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his father, Denzil in 1989. The family will receive friends at Lux Family Life Story Funeral Home on Friday, November 29, from 4-7 p.m. Cremation will follow. Memorial contributions may be made to the wishes of the family. Envelopes are available at the funeral home. To learn more about Johns life or to sign the online guest book please visit www.LuxFamilyFuneralHome.com