John M."Johnny"O'Banion

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." II Timothy 4:7. A retired Exxon supervisor and a resident of Baton Rouge, he died at 3:55 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2008, at the inpatient unit of Hospice of Baton Rouge, from complications of his valiant eight-year battle with cancer. He was 70 and a U.S. Army veteran. He is survived by his beloved wife of 48 years, Peggy; and children, Timothy, Jeffrey, Kahne, Danielle and Kristin O'Banion Magee; daughter-in-law, Anna; grandchildren, Loren, John Michael II, Alexandra, Patrick and Evan Sonnier; faithful brother, Kenneth, of Walker; and sister, Sandra "Sandy" O'Banion Cotter, of Fort Myers, Fla.; as well as numerous other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Hardy and Juanita O'Banion; as well as brothers, Gerald and Glenn. Despite his escalating struggle with his disease over the years, he spent his retirement on his love of restoring classic cars and enjoying his family, especially his grandchildren. Anyone who knew him knows that he always lived his life to the fullest. Visiting at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., on Thursday, Jan. 3, was from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., with recitation of the rosary at 7 p.m. Visitation resumes at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 749 East Blvd., on Friday, Jan. 4, from 10 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at noon, with Monsignor Robert M. Berggreen, celebrant. Interment in Greenoaks Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Kenneth, Timothy, Jeffrey, John Michael II, Willard Castello and Alex Sulik. The family would like to acknowledge with the utmost gratitude Dr. Gerald Miletello and his staff, as well as the inpatient unit of Hospice of Baton Rouge for their magnificent compassion, care and professionalism during this most difficult time. Johnny's enthusiasm, humor and zest for life, especially for his family, will be sorely missed. He was indeed "one of a kind."