He was born Johannes Bekkers in Arnhem, a small town in the Netherlands. John and his family immigrated to the United States when he was 17 years old, just in time for his senior year of high school in Inglewood, California. John enrolled at Harbor Junior College, but decided to leave after one semester because, “college wasn’t for me.” One month later, John was drafted to fight in Vietnam as a member of the United States Army. John served as a heavy equipment operator and survived attacks behind armor while building roads, runways and other necessities to support the war. John was very proud of his time in the military serving the country he loved so much.
After the war, John worked various jobs in California, eventually joining a friend in the consulting business focused on the poultry industry. His work in consulting brought him from Los Angeles to the Southeast, and he eventually relocated to Atlanta in 1979. From his reputation working with Gold Kist in his time as a consultant, he was hired as a vice president and soon earned his way to becoming the CEO. He was very dedicated to his work at Gold Kist and cared deeply about the company, the employees, and its farmers. John was the quintessential American success story.
John met his wife, Kathleen, at a Rolling Stones concert while she worked as a partner at Alston & Bird. They married in 2007 and he became a loving stepfather to Charlotte and Annabel. Kathleen and John were blessed to welcome their daughter, McKenna, in 2008. In the words of his favorite artist, Chris Stapleton, he always said McKenna is the “Joy of My Life.” He loved spending time with his family, passing down his passion for golf, traveling to Florida, and cheering McKenna on from the bleachers of her softball games.
John is predeceased by his wife, Kathleen Capano Bekkers. He is survived by his daughter, Kathleen McKenna Bekkers, his stepdaughters, Charlotte Mariead Farley and Annabel Elizabeth Farley, and his sister, Ellen Dhillon.
A funeral Mass will be held in his memory on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of Christ the King, 2699 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30305. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation would be greatly appreciated.
