John George Benikosky, Jr. was born May 29, 1946 to Florene Ridley and John Benikosky in Plainfield, NJ. On November 12, 2023 at the age of 77, he went to be with our Lord in Heaven. An energetic and curious person, John lived life fully and was a beloved friend to many who will miss him deeply.

As a young boy in New Jersey, John developed a love for the outdoors and refined his culinary palette for great diner food and boardwalk treats. After John's father passed away in 1955, Florene relocated the family to her home state, Oklahoma, for several years. In Oklahoma City the family became members of South Memorial Baptist Church, joining Florene's sister Helen Midkiff and family. John was raised in the church and became a Christian as a young man.

Florene finally moved the family to Sierra Vista, Arizona. John graduated, class of 1964, from Buena High School in Sierra Vista. He went on to attend Cochise College there, later graduating from the University of Arizona in Tucson with a degree in business administration. He built a rich, interesting life in Tucson, his longtime home.

Like many men of his generation, John volunteered for the military and served honorably. He joined the Army during the Vietnam war and was a military police officer stationed in Thailand. John's service for the United States enriched his life through camaraderie with fellow veterans, a cause he donated to throughout his life. His experience sparked a life-long love of travel and experiencing other cultures.

John's family and extended network of close friends were always a priority to him. As a young man, he loved playing sports like basketball, cycling, and golf, and participated in the many festivals in and around Tucson. He loved to travel with his friends to Germany for Oktoberfest, Las Vegas for whatever happens in Vegas, and local road trips to beaches, lakes, and mountains. He also took many memorable trips with his mother and sister, including to Hawaii and Alaska.

John balanced all of this fun with many years of dedicated, hard work. He served as a police officer and worked in electronics and appliance retail sales before starting his career as a mail carrier for the US Postal Service in Tucson. John loved jobs that kept him active, both physically and socially. He also helped out friends and neighbors with odd jobs and projects, and was always ready to lend a hand when someone was in need.

Late in his life with his health suffering, he moved to Fort Worth, Texas in 2021, to live with his sister Mary Jane Benikosky Brinlee. The two siblings supported each other, extending John's time to enjoy his friends and family. The family lost Mary Jane in August 2023. John was by her side as she passed.

John was preceded in death by his parents John Benikosky and Florene Oliver, his sister Mary Jane, and nephew Terry Brinlee. He leaves a large group of family and friends to cherish his memory including nephews Don Brinlee and wife Brenda, and Tony Brinlee and wife Denise; his great-nieces Kirsten, Kaylan, Haley, and Brooke. John will be missed by numerous loving cousins, friends, and neighbors. John was truly a great friend to all.

A memorial service is scheduled Saturday, November 18 at 2pm at the Craddock Funeral Home in Ardmore, OK, officiated by Rev. Bruce Kirby. Graveside will follow at Hewitt Cemetery in Wilson, OK.

John was on dialysis for many years due to Polycystic Kidney Disease. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to www.pkdcure.org or signing up to be a real authentic life saver by registering at www.organdonor.gov. Donating saves and extends lives, including the life of his sister who received her kidney in 2011, and his nephew whose 2007 donated kidney is still going strong.