John S. Veenstra, 72, of Beaufort, South Carolina, formerly a longtime resident of Largo, Florida, passed away suddenly on October 8, 2026.

John was born in Washington, D.C., on September 30, 1954, to Patricia Marie and Theodore Arthur Veenstra. He grew up in the Twinbrook neighborhood of Rockville, Maryland, where he later bought his first home just around the block from his childhood house and raised his own family. The neighborhood remained close to his heart, and the friendships he formed there stayed with him throughout his life.

After graduating from the University of South Florida in 1977, John met Diane on a blind date arranged by their friends Brian and Kristi Elias. That evening included a kiss in the middle of M Street in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., that drew cheers and honking horns from stopped traffic. At her doorstep, he ended the night with a gentle kiss on her forehead. Nine months later, in June 1979, they married, beginning 47 loving years together as husband and wife and best friends.

Their marriage was a partnership through military assignments, raising children, and countless home projects. John supported Diane’s Army career and became a certified Family Support Coordinator during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. At home, he proudly served as “Master of the Kitchen,” kept their boys on track with schoolwork, and coached their Little League teams. On the field, he would remind his sons, only half joking, “Don’t call me Dad. It’s Coach Veenstra!”

To John and Daniel, he was their hero. In the way he loved Diane, supported his family, and handled the responsibilities of everyday life, he showed his sons what it meant to be a man, a husband, and a father. It was an example he set day in and day out, one they will carry with them throughout their lives. His example reached their friends, too. One shared that he still thinks of their father when raising his own boys.

A certified residential and commercial master carpenter, John took pride in his craftsmanship and in having owned his own remodeling business. Though Army assignments meant moving on from the business he had built, he brought his skills and work ethic wherever the family went. He later spent 18 years teaching high school carpentry at Seminole Vocational Educational Center, retiring in 2015. Through his teaching and involvement with SkillsUSA, he helped students develop skills, confidence, and pride in their work.

His lessons reached beyond carpentry. Even decades later, former students remembered “Mr. V” as the best teacher they had ever had and spoke of the lasting difference he made in their lives. The example he set for his sons extended to the young people in his classroom, where his guidance, humor, and encouragement stayed with them long after they left school.

John and his family moved to Largo in 1997, where he and Diane spent nearly three decades. Living close to his grandchildren, John M. and Aubree, allowed him to become a constant presence in their everyday lives. As their grandad, he helped raise them, offering his time, attention, and steady support as they grew. Whether they visited with their parents or spent time at their grandparents’ home on their own, they were always welcome. They shared an exceptionally close bond, and being their grandad was one of the great joys of his life.

Fun-loving and boisterous, John had a gift for saying aloud what everyone else was thinking, finding humor in the obvious and easing a tense moment with a laugh. He enjoyed family gatherings, holidays, a good book, and helping Diane in the garden. In retirement, he could often be found “piddlin’ around the house,” renovating, fixing, or finding another project to keep his hands busy. He was generous with his skills, helping relatives with their homes as readily as he worked on his own.

John and Diane recently made their home in Beaufort. He loved their new house and looked forward to longer stretches of cooler weather, meeting neighbors, making friends, and enjoying this next chapter together. Living nearby also offered the chance to spend more time with his cousin Erik Magnus and Erik’s wife, Violeta, and he looked forward to growing closer to them.

John was baptized in the United Methodist Church in 1980, and his faith was part of the life he shared with his family.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Diane L. Veenstra; his sons, John T. and his wife, Michelle, and Daniel L. and his wife, Kourtney; his grandchildren, John M. and Aubree; his brother, David; his late brother Derick’s children, Kasey, Gail, and Teddy, and their families; and his cousin, David.

He also leaves behind his extended family through Diane: Joanne and Billy, Susie, and Hugh, the devoted husband of the late Cindy Lou; nieces and nephews Reno, Thor, Jennifer, Katy, Heather, Melissa, and Rachel, and their families; and many lifelong friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Patricia Marie and Theodore Arthur Veenstra; his brothers, Derick, Roger, and Teddy; his infant son, Matthew; and his sister-in-law, Cindy Lou.

John’s family will remember his humor, his steady support, and the everyday example he set. His handiwork remains as part of his legacy in the homes he helped build, and his influence continues in the lives of his sons, grandchildren, and the many students who knew him as Mr. V.

A celebration of John’s life and legacy is tentatively planned for March 2027. Details will be announced once arrangements are finalized.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in John’s name to the American Heart Association, supporting cardiovascular research and efforts to prevent and treat heart and vascular disease.

Arrangements are entrusted to Charleston Cremation Center and Funeral Home.