Obituary for John Kolln Gebhart
John K. Gebhart, age 65, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Wednesday, September 7, 2022 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.
Visitation will be from 9:30-10:30 am, with a memorial service to follow at 10:30 am on Thursday, September 15, 2022 at Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Watertown. Father John Fischer will be the celebrant. Blain Martian will be the song leader accompanied by Jane Rokusek.
Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery, Watertown, SD immediately following the funeral. Lunch will be served in the Parish Center across the church parking lot.
Honorary Urn bearers will be John's nieces and nephews.
John Kolln Gebhart was born to John DeWall Gebhart and B. Marlene Kolln on October 12, 1956 in Pensacola, FL. Being raised in a military family, he grew up in California, Illinois, Virginia, Minnesota, and Louisiana, graduating from O. Perry Walker High School in New Orleans, LA. He later graduated with highest honors (4.0 GPA) with a degree in Electronics from Monterrey Peninsula College in CA. John was talented in electronics and appliance repair, eventually opening his own business in that field. At the age of 61, John graduated with honors from Lake Area Technical Institute with a degree in robotics. He used his new skills to teach others and create practical inventions to help others.
On June 22, 1979 he married Patsy Sangl and they have one daughter, Katy. John and his family lived in New Orleans, LA; Pacific Grove, CA; Knoxville, TN; Mesa, AZ; Neenah, WI, and South Berwick, Maine. He and his family returned to Watertown in 2005.
John was a talented cook, woodworker, and photographer, who enjoyed inventing, teaching, repairing antique and new electronics and machines, precision sound technology, saving family memories with video and audio equipment, and enjoying the simple things in life, especially with his grandchildren.
Left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Katy Gebhart and her children, Jackson and Breelle Gebhart of Watertown; his parents, John D. "Jack" and Marlene Gebhart of Watertown; his siblings, Mark (Delanah) of Tallahassee, FL, Thomas Gebhart of Oak Ridge, TN, Anne (Lee) Gabel of Watertown, and Joseph Gebhart of Oak Ridge, TN; his nieces and nephews; and Patsy Gebhart of Watertown.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents John and Erna Kolln, and paternal grandparents, Henry and Antje Gebhart.
Arrangements by Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel, www.wightandcomes.com.
Visitation will be from 9:30-10:30 am, with a memorial service to follow at 10:30 am on Thursday, September 15, 2022 at Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Watertown. Father John Fischer will be the celebrant. Blain Martian will be the song leader accompanied by Jane Rokusek.
Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery, Watertown, SD immediately following the funeral. Lunch will be served in the Parish Center across the church parking lot.
Honorary Urn bearers will be John's nieces and nephews.
John Kolln Gebhart was born to John DeWall Gebhart and B. Marlene Kolln on October 12, 1956 in Pensacola, FL. Being raised in a military family, he grew up in California, Illinois, Virginia, Minnesota, and Louisiana, graduating from O. Perry Walker High School in New Orleans, LA. He later graduated with highest honors (4.0 GPA) with a degree in Electronics from Monterrey Peninsula College in CA. John was talented in electronics and appliance repair, eventually opening his own business in that field. At the age of 61, John graduated with honors from Lake Area Technical Institute with a degree in robotics. He used his new skills to teach others and create practical inventions to help others.
On June 22, 1979 he married Patsy Sangl and they have one daughter, Katy. John and his family lived in New Orleans, LA; Pacific Grove, CA; Knoxville, TN; Mesa, AZ; Neenah, WI, and South Berwick, Maine. He and his family returned to Watertown in 2005.
John was a talented cook, woodworker, and photographer, who enjoyed inventing, teaching, repairing antique and new electronics and machines, precision sound technology, saving family memories with video and audio equipment, and enjoying the simple things in life, especially with his grandchildren.
Left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Katy Gebhart and her children, Jackson and Breelle Gebhart of Watertown; his parents, John D. "Jack" and Marlene Gebhart of Watertown; his siblings, Mark (Delanah) of Tallahassee, FL, Thomas Gebhart of Oak Ridge, TN, Anne (Lee) Gabel of Watertown, and Joseph Gebhart of Oak Ridge, TN; his nieces and nephews; and Patsy Gebhart of Watertown.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents John and Erna Kolln, and paternal grandparents, Henry and Antje Gebhart.
Arrangements by Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel, www.wightandcomes.com.