John Ethan Bredehoft

His story will be carried on by his wife, son, father, brothers, and an extended family of relations and friends from every walk of life.

As a gentle giant, John walked this Earth with a soft voice and magnanimous heart that was unabashedly empathetic and carried on his sleeve. Knowing every facet of existence was an experience to cherish, he dove into life with a gigantic splash of love, music, and camaraderie. John wholeheartedly loved his wife and adored the ground she walked on; he would readily tell you he was unworthy of her and that he was forever grateful to have her as his soulmate and partner in life’s adventures. He was fiercely proud of his son whose wit and talents in the kitchen rivaled his own. John had an incredible ability to befriend others by finding commonality, refraining from judgement, and holding space for their experience. His door was ever revolving, the home he shared with his wife becoming a welcome escape to others—a foundation of solace during the hardest of times and a beacon of joy during the best. John gave love freely and expected nothing in return. He exuded the positivity he wanted to see in the world, knowing that universal change starts within the individual, and he left this physical plane better than he found it. His influence remains ubiquitous, and his life carries on through the many valuable lessons he bestowed on those he loved:

Treat your wife like she is the queen. After all, she makes the rules, and you follow them.

Take pride in yourself, regardless of how big or small, and remind people of your awesomeness with, “I’m in the amazing business.”

Go see the obscure bands in town. You’ll be surprised how often they’ll rock your face off.

When you live in Alabama, there is only one football team that matters: Ohio State.

There are no hard conversations when you truly love someone. Listen fully, speak kindly, and together you will find a resolution.

Only one holy book should be discussed in the kitchen, and it was written by Julia Child.

It’s okay to be a little sarcastic with children; they’ll grow up with wit so powerful that it will rival yours.

Monday nights are for football; therefore, you should watch a ridiculous movie with friends instead.

If a song makes you think of someone, send it to them. If the next eleven songs you hear also bring them to mind, send those too.

Always purchase more lumber for woodworking, regardless of present plans to use it, if the price is right.

There is, in fact, a way to correlate the teachings of the Bible and The Big Lebowski for a Sunday school class.

Organizing a sit-down meal for a circle of friends can be difficult with everyone’s schedule, so open your door every Friday morning at 6:00AM with a fully prepared breakfast on the table to make the end of the week special for those you love.

A true connoisseur will always pour out a full 6-pack of beer that resembles the color and/or flavor of Mountain Dew.

Always remind your children that they are loved.

When a friend asks for help, you help them.

At the time of his passing, John’s spirit was welcomed by his mother, Neila Schmidt Bredehoft. He is survived by his wife, Diane Fish Bredehoft, of Helena, AL; his son, Wesley Bredehoft, and daughter-in-law, Kayla Katich, of Opelika, AL; his stepson, Colin Simpson, of Birmingham, AL; his father, Tom Bredehoft, of Ohio; brother, George (Patricia) Bredehoft, of Michigan; brother, Tom “Tad” (Rosemary) Bredehoft, of West Virginia; and nephews, Jackson and Tristan Bredehoft, of Michigan; as well as a host of extended family and friends whose lives have been forever changed for the better simply because John was a part of it.

A Celebration of Life will take place on Sunday, July 9, from 4:00 to 7:00PM, at Siluria Brewing in Alabaster, AL (145 1st Ave W—35007). We ask you stop by to enjoy live music in an intimate setting as we share stories, enjoy each other’s company for the evening, and raise a toast to one of the greatest. To honor John and his passion for music, please consider wearing your favorite band t-shirt. As the Celebration will contain adult material and libations, we respectfully and firmly ask that no children under 18 attends.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to John’s GoFundMe (https://www.gofundme.com/f/blessing-the-bredehofts-round-2) to assist his family during this time or donate in his name to the American Cancer Society for Pancreatic Cancer Research.