John Henne Blood, 71, entered eternal rest on October 30, 2025, at his home, after a courageous battle with Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD). Born in Reading, PA, on September 18, 1954, John was a son of the late John G. Blood and Mary Ellen (Henne) Blood. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Georgine Birkenstock, and his brother, Keith Birkenstock.
At just five years old, John lost his hearing as a result of spinal meningitis, but he never allowed that to quiet his spirit. He was a proud graduate of the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and remained a member of the Keystone Deaf & Hard of Hearing community throughout his life.
For 44 years, John worked as a welder for Reading Truck Body, where he was known not only for his craftsmanship, but for his quiet reliability. He retired in 2021.
John had a creative eye and a deep appreciation for the world around him. Photography was one of his great loves; he belonged to the Berks Camera Club and owned an impressive collection of cameras, lenses, and darkroom equipment. If something could be taken apart, repaired, or built, John was the man for the job. Woodworking, tinkering, fixing, adjusting; he found joy in the details and took pride in doing things right.
John was a fan of the Los Angeles Rams and NASCAR. He enjoyed drag racing at Maple Grove and he and his twin brother would often take their cars to race. John was into woodworking, was very handy, could fix anything and could always be found tinkering around the house. He also like trap shooting and was known to be a perfectionist in his hobbies he was interested in.
He was an avid fan of the Los Angeles Rams and NASCAR, and he spent many days at Maple Grove Raceway, often racing alongside his twin brother, Jerry. He enjoyed trap shooting, fueled by the same perfectionism that shaped all his hobbies.
John was a gentle soul. He was soft-spoken, kind-hearted, and deeply devoted as a husband. Animals loved him as much as he loved them, especially his cats who always seemed to know his lap was the safest place to be.
May John be remembered the way he lived; loyal, humble, capable, and deeply loved. May the engines never quiet, the workshop light always stay on, and may every broken thing in Heaven already be in working order now that he’s arrived. Rest in eternal peace, dear John.
John's spirit will be carried on by beloved wife of 40 years, Karen L. (Beidler) Blood; his twin brother, Jerry Blood; sister-in-law, Donna Mason; brother-in-law, Marc Mason; sister, Linda Quade; brother, Bruce Birkenstock (Celia); daughter, Vanessa and 2 grandchildren.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Holisticare Hospice for the care and comfort they provided to John, and to Sense of Peace Home Care for their devoted support and companionship. A special thank you to Tanya, Kasey, Allie, Kimberly, Trisha, Jessica, and Christina for the compassion, dignity, and kindness they showed throughout John’s journey.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, 2700 Horizon Drive, Suite 120, King of Prussia, PA 19406, and/ or The ALS Association, 1300 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22209.
