John Henry Waggett, 67, of Orange Park, Florida died unexpectedly Thursday, August 1st, 2013 at home in the care of hospice surrounded by his family. John was born September 5th, 1945, in DuBois, Pennsylvania, and he was the son of the late Henry G. and Joanna E. (Shaw) Waggett, as well as stepmother Mary Carolyn Waggett. John was an outstanding husband, a fantastic father, a very generous and kind person who was always ready to lend a hand or help someone out. He had an optimistic spirit and an open heart. He was always willing to try something new and would find a way to make the important things happen.
John graduated from Milton Hershey School in 1964. He was a celebrated athlete on the football field, in wrestling and on the track team. He was a member of the National Honor Society. John was recently notified that he would be inducted into the Milton Hershey Spartan Hall of Fame with the 1963 National Champion Wrestling Team during Homecoming activities in September. After secondary school, John attended the DuBois campus of Penn State University for drafting and design technology. He was a certified ambulance attendant and a volunteer fire fighter. He owned two companies throughout his career, Waggett Enterprises and Building Concepts. John was a turbine engineer at Skinner Engine in Erie, PA. He was a charter member of the Edinboro Apartment Owners Association in Pennsylvania and owning & managing rental units in Edinboro, PA. John built, rebuilt, remodeled, supervised, superintended, designed and engineered through his entire career…he could fix, patch or repair just about anything!
John served his community through Lions Club International in Pennsylvania and Florida serving as President and “King Lion” in Edinboro, PA in 1983-84. He also served as Assistant District Governor for District 14F in 1986-1987. John respected that the Lions Club put 100% of donations back into the community and he personally transported donated eyes between medical facilities for transplant procedures. He also created and implemented a Leadership Development Course for the Lions Club. John was a member of the DuBois Jaycees in Pennsylvania and held a number of leadership roles. More recently he worked with the American Red Cross in Florida for emergency shelter relief services. He donated time and talent to organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Lighthouse Learning Center. He made many Motorcycle Charity Rides and played Santa Claus on his motorcycle many times.
John has lived in Orange Park, Florida since 1987. He was an avid motorcycle enthusiast and looked forward each year to Bike Week in Daytona Beach. In 2006, he rode “The Dragon” in Deals Gap, NC with son-in-law Richard Smith. He enjoyed RV camping with his friends in Bulow and watching the Jacksonville Jaguars play football. He was involved in drag racing and snowmobile racing and playing men’s softball in his younger days. John enjoyed nothing more than sharing a good steak or some southern BBQ or a sausage with pepper and onions and a beer with his friends.
He is survived by his wife Ann Marie (Patsie) Waggett; four daughters, Barbara (Scott) Jacques of Michigan, Kathleen (Bruce) Nunnelly of Missouri, Hope Waggett and Jerri Lynne (Richard) Smith of Florida; eleven grandchildren, Freya, Lance and Dale Patrick, Patton Cohagan, John Richard Nunnelly, Ann Marie, Warrin and Rileigh Smith, and Sydney, Duncan and Lydia Jacques; his siblings, Leslie (Lew) Waggett of Florida, Tim Waggett of Virgina, Carla Waggett and Pat Waggett of Massachusetts and Catherine(Kaye) Albright of Pennsylvania.
John was a member of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church and a Mass will be held at 11am on Tuesday, August 6th at 1649 Kingsley Avenue, Orange Park, Florida. His cremains will be interred at a future time at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Cemetery in DuBois, Pennsylvania. To send an online condolence or memorial contribution, visit www.johnwaggett.shutterfly.com.
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