John Wesley Starks Jr.

John W. Starks, Jr., known as, “Stevie", was born on January 21, 1963, at St, Joseph Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to John W. Starks, Sr., and Emma Carolyn Wagstaff-Starks. He was raised by his father, John W. Starks, Sr. and stepmother, Dr. Deborah Godwin-Starks in East Noble County, Indiana. He departed this life at 61 years old on Sunday, December 15, 2024, at Bethlehem Woods Nursing and Rehabilitation Home in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

John is the oldest of five siblings including Thomas, Sr., (Dawn), Thomasa (Terrence), and De’ Breia (Rev. Christopher) of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Tracy (Carolyn) of Kokomo, Indiana, and Jason (Angela) of Hamilton, Ohio.

Born to the union of John Jr., and Phonesia Machado, (deceased), is his only daughter, Roxie Nicole (Colin) Currie of Mankato, Minnesota. She is affectionately known as “Rabbit”.

On July 14, 2002, he married Trulaine Harrison and to this union she brought four bonus sons, affectionately known as #1 son Jarmel Harrison (Recherael) of Killeen, Texas, #2 son Jarmeek Harrison (Mesha) of Clarksville, Tennessee, #3 son Jason Harrison of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and #4 son Joey Harrison of Indianapolis, Indiana. He is grandfather to twenty-six and great-grandfather to nine plus two

on the way, along with fifteen nieces and nephews.

He gave his life to Christ at an early age and was baptized at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1977. He held his membership there before moving it to Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church of Fort Wayne in 2002.

John began his military career as a cadet in the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corp (JROTC) program at Concordia Lutheran High School where he graduated in 1981. A thirty-year Combat Veteran, he rose to the rank of 1st Sergeant. He served his country faithfully through several conflicts and peacekeeping missions including Desert Storm, Panama, Afghanistan, and Iraq just to name a few. He also graduated from Harrison College in September 2013, with dual degrees in Business and Business Administration with honors.

He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife of 22 years Trulaine Starks, parents, John W. Starks, Sr., and Dr. Deborah Godwin-Starks, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, friends, colleagues, neighbors, church associates/affiliates, military comrades, and others. John was a friend to everyone he met. His absence will not go unnoticed by many.

John is preceded in death by his mother, Emma Carolyn Wagstaff-Starks, grandparents, Tom and Mary M. Whitt-Starks, Allen Wagstaff, Sr., Cora Lee Jefferson-Wagstaff, and his in-laws, Truman and Lillie Wimberly.