John Sherman Hancock, Jr.

"A native of Frankfurt, KY and resident of Baton Rouge, LA, John passed away at his home at 3:22 am on Monday, October 31, 2016. He was 90. Memorial services will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Baton Rouge, at 10:30 am on Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. He is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth Dessecker Wetzel and husband Thomas Delaney Wetzel, Jr. of Mandeville, LA; two sons, John Sherman Hancock III and wife Mollie French Hancock of Plano, TX, and Steven Michael Hancock and wife Ann Campion Hancock of Mandeville, LA; brother, Thomas Tuck Hancock; four grandchildren, Todd Daniel Wetzel, Chloe Madeline Hancock, Elise Dessecker Hancock and Katherine Elizabeth Hancock; and a great-grandson, Jack Delaney Wetzel. Jack was preceded in death by his wife and best friend of 63 years, Mary Ann Dessecker Hancock; grandson, John Sherman Hancock IV; brother, Robert N. Hancock; mother, Roberta Tuck Gentry; and his father, John Sherman Hancock. John graduated from Anchorage High School in 1944 after which he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served as a Signalman Third Class, with seven months at sea in the America Area Campaign and the Asiatic Pacific Area until victory of World War II. After honorable discharge from the Navy he attended Law School at the University of Louisville, graduating with his Juris Doctorate in 1950. John began his career at the F.B.I. and switched to banking where he worked in Kentucky, North Carolina and came to Baton Rouge, LA in 1976. He retired as Sr. Vice President and Head of the Trust Department from City National Bank, Baton Rouge, LA, in 1991. John's accomplishments were many, among them he was elected President of the City Club of Baton Rouge in 1989, President and Treasurer of Sherwood Forest Country Club, Ad Hoc Night Court Judge in St. Matthews, KY, and was a member of Rotary Club in Louisville and Lexington, KY, and a member of the Kiwanis Club. John was also a proud member of the Masonic Lodge in Louisville, KY. After retirement, he loved tutoring children in math in the East Baton Rouge Parish School system, mentoring and helping with workshops through SCORE Baton Rouge (Service Corps of Retired Executives), playing golf, singing in his church choir, singing at nursing homes and assisted living facilities with the group, The Upbeats, and was an avid Louisville Cardinals fan. John was a big believer in giving back to his community. He coached Little League Baseball and participated in various charitable activities. The family asks in lieu of flowers , donations may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church or the Hospice of Baton Rouge.