John Semadeni Obituary

John Lorenzo Semadeni was born Sept. 15, 1937, and went to be with his Lord on Nov. 19, 2013.

John attended Dove Creek schools and Union College in Lincoln Neb.There, he met and eventually married Doris Stigge. They were married Aug. 29, 1961, in Burlington, Iowa, Doris' previous home. John and Doris were members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

The young couple moved to Denver, where John worked at Porter Hospital for about 2 years as a maintenance man. They then moved to Berrien Springs Mich., where they bought a home. John worked at Andrews University, as a maintenance man and a plumber for 11 years.

They decided to sell their home and use the proceeds to go on a mission for the church to Valley of the Angels, Honduras. They both worked there for 2 years, living in primitive conditions, before returning to the U.S.

When they returned, they settled at Loma Linda University, where John spent 30 years of his life working as a master plumber and foreman in construction. During that time, John and Doris were very active in the church. Orphanages were their focus, and they made several trips to Tijuana, Mexico, delivering food and clothing. They also gave freely to the cause of less fortunate children.

If John ever saw a way that he could lighten someone else's load, he was very quick to do whatever he could for them. He possessed a very charitable and giving nature. Through the years, he also sent many boxes of "in season" California oranges or avocados, or any other thing that he thought would be a treat for his folks, or to cheer them up a bit.

John partially restored the 1934 Dodge that the folks went on their honeymoon in and brought it to their 50th wedding anniversary party. John was very happy to sell the old Dodge and the John Deere to a nephew, who agreed to restore them both. Being a master plumber, John had some expensive tools, and it was his wish that those tools would go to a mission project.

John was preceded in death by his father, Jack Semadeni; his mother, Lucile Semadeni; and a sister, Beatrice Yvonne. He is survived by Doris, the love of his life; three children, Bobby, Marta and Lonnie; brothers and sisters Anna Ruth, Marc, Paul, James, Beth and David; many nieces and nephews; and many friends. John will be greatly missed. He was a great friend.