John K. Epperson Jr.

John King Epperson Jr., better known as Jack, passed away on August 30, 2026, at the age of 79. He was born on December 9, 1946, in Detroit, Michigan. In May 1947, his family moved to Miami, Florida, where he spent the remainder of his life building a legacy rooted in family, service, hard work, and the crane industry.

In 1952, Jack’s father purchased a crane and founded Jack Epperson Crane Service. From an early age, Jack was immersed in the family business. He learned the crane industry from the ground up and became vice president of operations.

Jack was an active member of the Boy Scouts of America and attained the rank of Eagle Scout. He also earned the God and Country Award. In 1963, he delivered a statewide Boy Scouts address to Florida Governor Farris Bryant and was invited to speak at a public memorial for President John F. Kennedy at the Orange Bowl.

Jack graduated from Southwest Miami High School and attended Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. He later returned home and joined the United States Air Force Reserve. Following a brief period of active duty, he served for four years in the active reserve at Homestead Air Force Base. He also attended Miami-Dade County Community College, taking classes while working during the day in the family business.

During his twenties, Jack married and became the proud father of two sons. He became active in the Florida Jaycees, serving as president of the Southwest Miami chapter and later attaining the rank of state officer. He also became involved with the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association, an international organization serving the heavy-haul, crane, and rigging industries.

In 1986, as his father’s health declined, Jack’s father decided to retire and close the business. Jack then founded Epperson Cranes, Inc., purchasing three cranes and carrying forward the tradition his father had built. The company became part of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 487, where Jack served as a trustee on the board.

Under Jack’s leadership, the new company quickly doubled in size and then doubled again. He built and maintained a fleet of equipment capable of meeting the changing demands of the industry while never losing sight of the company’s roots as a small, close-knit family business. His two sons became active in the company: his eldest son, John, served as a crane operator, and his youngest son, Peter, served as vice president and operations manager.

Jack had a passion for sailing and charting courses through Florida’s waters, traveling to the Dry Tortugas and beyond aboard his sailboat. He was also an expert marksman, avid hunter, and fisherman who enjoyed the great outdoors and Florida’s beautiful weather.

In 1989, Jack met Linda. Ten years later, they married and spent the next 28 years helping each other navigate life and supporting one another through both good times and difficult days.

Jack was deeply loved. A kind and generous soul, he was always ready to help those in need. He will be dearly missed by everyone whose life he touched.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Jack K. Epperson and Ebba Epperson. He is survived by his wife, Linda Epperson; his brother, Rod Joseph Epperson, and Rod’s wife, Linda; his sons, John K. Epperson III and Peter J. Epperson, Peter’s wife, Traci; and his grandchildren, John K. IV and Cayden. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews; including Matt, his wife Chelsea, Tyler, Elizabeth, her husband Shon, Dennis, Andrea, her partner Jimmy, Nicholas, his partner Samantha, Anthony Ciro, his wife Bobby, and Domenick Francesco; as well as grandnieces and grandnephews, including Katelyn, Julia Falkins, Ebba, Mila, Julia Epperson, Dominic, Nicholas, Gianna Rose, and Danny.

Funeral and Burial Information

A viewing will be held on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, from 12:00 noon until 8:00 p.m. at:

Fred Hunter’s Funeral Home

2401 S. University Drive

Davie, FL 33324

A funeral service will be held in the chapel at Fred Hunter’s on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.

Following the service, Jack will be laid to rest at Caballero Woodlawn Cemetery in South Miami-Dade County.