John L. Upton, 67, of Sioux City passed away Sunday Sept. 1, 2013, at a hospital in Lincoln, Neb. following complications from a traumatic brain injury.
A celebration of life service will be 3 p.m. Saturday at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home in Sioux City. Visitation will be 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
He was born on July 18, 1946, in Joplin, Mo., to Frederick and Francella (Menapace) Upton. He graduated from Central High School in St. Paul, Minn. in 1964. After high school, John joined the U.S. Marine Corps as a helicopter mechanic and served two tours in Vietnam.
On July 15, 1967, John married Ruth Shirley Leitner. They had four children, Christine, John Jr., Michael and Mandy. In 1990, John moved to Sioux City to work for Burger King as director of operations. He married Diane Stokes on Oct. 1, 1994 and they were married for 19 years. They became foster parents for several different children. In the spring of 2006, they adopted three children, Troy, Mckenna, and Jenessa. After retiring, he worked at Culver’s in Sioux City.
John enjoyed spending time with family and friends, telling jokes to make people laugh, and chasing after his dogs.
Survivors include his wife, Diane Upton; children, Christine and Dan, John Jr. and Jenni, Michael and Gwen, Mandy, Troy, Mckenna, and Jenessa; grandchildren, Jake and Aleci, Paige, Amelia, and Jamie, Alex, James, and Quinn; sister, Freda Konop; brother, Richard and Fran Upton; and stepbrothers, Jack C. Shanklin and Eddie E. Schanklin.
He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Ruth Shirley Upton; and stepfather, Earl Shanklin.