John Kester Knighton Jr.

John K. Knighton was born in Chicago, Illinois on February 17, 1945. He left us to greet his new heavenly friends on May 27, 2026. John was affectionately known as John Boy, Mildred, Mayor of the Square, No, among many others. John never met a stranger. He spoke with everyone he met, whether they wanted to talk or not. John enjoyed visiting and wanted to make everyone he met feel important. He loved being a greeter at 9:30 mass at Queen of Peace Church. He spent his Sunday mornings there enjoying all the friends he made every week. He was always happy that someone managed to save him two blueberry donuts every Sunday. During a long traffic stop he was known to get out of the car and enter the home of a stranger for a cup of coffee. John always had a dad joke and was ready to share it. John loved to be dramatic. As a child, he shot an arrow in the house and put a hole in the wall. As a United States Marine, he once called in an area for bombs and ended up, exploding a water buffalo as he sang happy birthday to himself. Fussy is a word that describes John in many ways. His hair was always perfect. His clothes closet was marine training regimented. His cars were perfectly clean. His gentleman Jack was always poured with a twist, not a slice of lemon. John could be opinionated, and once he made his stance clear he seldom changed. John had his favorite people he likes to relax with. Taking cruises with his wife Bobbie was one of his favorites. Visiting with his mother-in-law, Katherine and ganging up on Bobbie with her brought him great joy. John and his mother had a close relationship. John was known as “the chosen one” because his parents did choose him. He was adopted from The Cradle in Evanston Illinois in time for his first Mother’s Day. John enjoyed spending time at Harrys whether it was for dinner with friends or a lunch Bunch day. He collected model cars and each car had a story. John loved music and loved going to concerts. His favorite artist was Elvis Presley. One of his memorable concerts was seeing Elvis in Houston with his daughter when she was 6. Many people filled John‘s close circle. First was always his wife of 37 years, Bobbie. He was survived by only daughter Kristine (known to him as Pumpkin) that he deeply loved, her husband John Wahr and beautiful grandchildren Katherine and Erik. He had two goddaughters whom he loved Elisabeth and Val (to whom John was always known as “The Godfather”). He had a very special “adopted granddaughter” Nicole. He he leaves behind a large Engstrom clan from Bobbie’s side of the family and many good friends. Mass to celebrate John’s life will be in the place he has chosen to rest eternally, Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 6455 SW State Road 200, at 8:30 AM on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. John requests that the celebration of his life continues by asking everyone to come dressed in a Hawaiian shirt (which he owned and owned and owned and owned several). If you don’t have a Hawaiian shirt, please wear some bright and cheerful clothing. He wants his life to be celebrated, not mourned. Surely he will continue to celebrate his new life as we say, from the heart, it’s bedtime for Bonzo. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to k9sforwarriors.org or Hospice of Marion County Florida.

John Kester Knighton Jr.

February 17, 1945 - May 27, 2026