John C. Berendzen

John spent his childhood in Oklahoma and Texas and a short time in California. He was Baptized at age 12 at First Baptist Church in Kaufman, Texas. Early adult years he helped his Papa Patton on the farm and helped him build houses and barns. He was in the Army Engineering Battalion in 1951 to 1953 and was stationed in Greenland building landing strips and housing. After the Army he bought 67 acres and farmed and ranched. In 1954 he began the 40 plus years with Burden Bros. mechanical contractor as a laborer, plumber, and pipefitter and finally as certified in plumbing engineering. John took over a family business, West Cliff Finer Fabrics, in the early 70’s. He was choir director (part-time) in five different churches for a total of eight years. He retired in 1995.

His hobbies were fishing, church choir music, playing cards and dominoes. He worked with the Volunteer Christian Builders. He traveled with the Texas Baptist Men to Honduras to build homes for flood victims. He traveled with his wife Joyce to most of the 50 states. They also traveled to Ecuador, Mexico, Canada, cruised Panama, the Caribbean and Alaska. He sang with The Singing Men of Texas and traveled as far as Jerusalem to deliver God’s message in song, which was his passion.

John is preceded in death by:

Father: Roy L. Berendzen

Mother: Willie Inez (Patton) Berendzen

Wife: Joyce Jean Berendzen

Daughter: Melanie Lynn Berendzen

John is survived by:

Sisters; Jenny Bankston and BeBe Vardell

Son; Ralph G. Berendzen and his wife D’Uan

Grandsons; Kenneth Berendzen, Jared Davis and Cory Berendzen

Daughter; Virginia Ann Berendzen Smith and husband Pinckney Smith

Granddaughter; Jessica Smith and husband Guillermo Vera Lopez

Grandson; Jacob Smith and wife Brandie

Son; James Craig Berendzen and wife Dana

Grandson; Chase Berendzen and wife Lindsey

Granddaughter; Jaymie Batten and husband Richard

Grandson; Andrew Berendzen

Fourteen great-grandchildren

In-lieu of flowers, please send donations to Denton State School, in memory of Melanie Lynn Berendzen.