John Christian Callesen, 84, was born in Chicago, Illinois on December 9, 1936 to John (Jens) Peter and Clara Elizabeth (Green) Callesen. He passed away peacefully at home after a short illness on February 19, 2021 with his loving wife, Kathleen, by his side.
After John graduated from Chicago’s Kelvyn High School, he enlisted in the United States Air Force in February 1955 and received an Honorable Discharge as Airman 1st Class in December 1958. While in the Air Force, John earned a certificate from the Instrument Repair School. He also received educational certificates in electronics and air conditioning & refrigeration from La Salle Institute in Chicago and Tarrant County Junior College in Fort Worth. In his professional life, John worked as a technician responsible for assembly & installation of control panels from natural gas well compressors and assembly & testing of aircraft simulator instruments. In 1982, John changed professions to energy management after which he worked for Margaux Controls, Safeway Stores, Universal Enterprises, Apple Tree Markets, and Novar Controls teaching store managers how to use computers to regulate their HVAC and lighting. John retired in 2003.
One of the things John loved during retirement was belonging to the Texas Western Model Railroad Club (TWMRC) where he helped to build the layout on which to run model trains. He enjoyed the friendship of his club buddies and looked forward to the pandemic being over so he could return to the club’s weekly meetings. John loved reading, especially stories about the sea. He enjoyed watching TV especially programs on National Geographic and the History Channel & police dramas. He even liked the romance movies on Hallmark. He loved traveling with Kathleen and especially enjoyed the East coast. He loved everything about boats & lighthouses and collected ornaments of both. John loved food and always enjoyed going out to dinner. He loved the holidays and looked forward to spending that time with our families. John loved visiting with people and he always had a great story to tell. He was a “mister fix-it” and helped everyone in our families fix anything and everything and even gave instructions by long distance.
John and Kathleen met on a blind date in the summer of 1979 set up by her Texas cousins. After dating for a “long” five months, they were married at St. Elijah Orthodox Church in Oklahoma City on December 29, 1979. They made their home in Texas, and for the last 27 years lived in Bedford. They had a very loving relationship and enjoyed their home and their families and often talked about how they met, or as John called it…”our story”.
John was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Rusty Lee Callesen. He is survived by his wife Kathleen, his sons Sam and daughter-in-law Karen Callesen and Dean Callesen, his grandchildren April Schumann, John Callesen and his wife Megan, Jacob Callesen, and Chelsie Callesen, great grandchildren Garrett Callesen and Reese and Kai Schumann, cousins Doris Adams and Jim King and their families, his brothers- and sisters-in law, Becky & Billy Boyd and Shirley & Randall Casey, and niece Talia & husband Julius Lane.
Our dear John will be so deeply missed by all who knew him, especially his family.
A public visitation will be held at Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home on Thursday, March 4, from 4:30 to 6:30pm.
A private family service will be held Friday, March 5 at 11:00am. For those who wish to attend virtually, please go to: https://youtu.be/xdLORA4HEzc
Memorials may be made to Williams-Sydrome.org, American Cancer Society, or the Texas Western Model Railroad Club.
Funeral service will be officiated by Dr. Larry Tarver.
