He was the fourth of eight children. Gloria, Dick, Lorraine, Jean, Terry, George and Greg, with John, grew up on the family farm at “Goodger”.

During his early years, the Kingaroy Show Society was a large part of his life. He was ringmaster for many years and a life member for over 50 years.

John’s working career was varied and interesting, starting with a livestock agent in Kingaroy to selling farm machinery, working at various abattoirs and also at the sugar mill at Babinda.

His first business venture was The Blue Mountain Meat Mart in Toowoomba where he met his future wife Janice and her three children Brett, Barry and Rhonda.

He then started a refrigerated transport business running eight trucks. During this time his two sons Benjamin and Luke were born.

After various enterprises John and his family moved to Inverell where he took up a position as foreman in the boning room at the abattoirs. He later acquired Bellview Butchery and renamed it Wade Street Meats and soon had a thriving business.

After selling the shop later, John and Jan started Gilgai Rural Supplies and it turned into the busiest business they owned. After treatment for cancer in 2006, John bought a livestock truck and was back in full-time work.

Over the years John had a total of 11 businesses. Life was interesting but never boring. In October, he was once again diagnosed with cancer.

Sadly, he passed away on October 23, 2018. He is survived by his wife Janice, his children Ben and Lisa, and Luke and Nichole, step-children Brett, Rhonda and Will, grandchildren Chloe, Mitchell, Matilda and Lachlan and step-grandson Joshua.

“What John has taught us is love and how much family and friends mean to us. John you will be missed but never forgotten,” the family said.