John James Behrendt

He is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Mary Behrendt, along with his two daughters, Maisie Behrendt of Mayville, Wisconsin, and Melody Rider of Bartlett, Texas. His legacy lives on in his cherished grandchildren, Shane Behrendt and Ethan Young, and his sister, Virginia Wilke, along with his nephews Russell, Andrew, and Joseph Wilke. John was preceded in death by his parents, James and Virginia Behrendt and brother, Frank Behrendt.

Today, we gather to celebrate the life of John, a man whose heart beat to the rhythm of the drums and whose passion for music was the soundtrack of his life. He wasn’t just a drummer; he was a maestro of percussion, a force of nature behind the kit who could make souls move with every beat. His love for music was infectious, drawing people into his world of joy and rhythm. Beyond his incredible talent, John was a kind and generous soul, whose greatest treasures were his family and friends.

He had a hilarious offbeat sense of humor and was playful, often making silly faces for family photos and intentionally mispronouncing words; loved cars and motorcycles; enjoyed building and fixing things; recorded and mixed music as a hobby; he was a stay-at-home dad; psychedelic rock was his favorite music genre.

Though his physical presence is gone, the music he created will forever echo in our hearts. Let us honor his memory by sharing the joy and rhythm he brought into our lives.

A private funeral ceremony was held to honor John’s life in the presence of close family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests memorial contributions to assist with funeral expenses. Donations can be made via PayPal to [email protected].

May his memory bring comfort to all who knew him.