John A Deppe

John knew the solution for life’s problems: prayer and praise. All things would be in the Lords time.rnHis walk with Christ and his faith grew especially in the last years of his life. John’s humility brought his light to many dark places: he led a 12-step program at Lady of Lourdes Hospital, the Burlington County Jail, and Westampton Hospital. John made a mean cup of coffee.rnAfter John graduated high school, he went straight to the U.S. Marine Corp boot camp at Paris Island. John exemplified the Marine Corp motto “once a Marine, always a Marine.”rnHe was proud of his service as a Marine and lived his life with honor and self discipline. He’d forever have a spit polished appearance.rnAfter boot camp he became an air traffic controller at Marine Corp Base Quantico, VA., home of the presidential helicopter Marine One.rnWhen he returned home he pursued his life’s passion, cars. Honest mechanics are hard to come by and John had a following. In his early years he could keep any Volkswagen going. He’d later refine his craft and become a Volvo Master Technician. His most recent job was with Liberty Toyota.rnJohn was the local embodiment of St. Francis of Assisi, although he was more likely to describe himself as Dr. Doolittle.rnThe fattest animals in Riverside could be found around his old repair shop, J.D’s Automotive where he handfed squirrels and raccoons. John was the Cat Whisperer. His gentle nature and special “calls” put all sorts of creatures at ease.rnHe loved NASCAR’s Mark Martin, not Tony Stewart and drove the cars at both Pocono and Dover. Of course some claim that he drove like that his entire life. He read everything he could get his hands on and filled many a journal with his life’s lessons.rnHe loved to dominate his boys in video games and enjoyed many a sci-fi flick with them. His biggest gifts to them were life lessons, but he did also love to spoil them at the Columbus Flea Market.rnHe was the father of Robert McManus and John A. Deppe Jr., and is also survived by his ex-wife and friend, Kimberly Deppe; his brothers, William (Alicia) and Edward (Karen); and sister, Kaye Deppe.rnJohn was the uncle of Stephanie Wilkins, Lori Maeder (Joseph), Melissa Deppe, and Matthew Deppe; and great-uncle of Keighly Wilkins, Anna Wilkins, Marissa Maeder, and Joseph Maeder.rnCome celebrate John’s 58 great years from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Sweeney Funeral Home, Riverside, and from 10 a.m. Thursday at the First Baptist Church, 216 Sunset Road, Willingboro, where the service will be at 11 a.m. Interment will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday in Beverly National Cemetery.rnIn lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Burlington County Animal Shelter, 35 Academy Drive, Westampton, NJ 08060.rnSweeney Funeral Home,rnRiverside