John A. Stellingwerf, a longtime resident of Warwick, died Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, in Middletown.
Born in Garfield, N.J., to John Stellingwerf and Mildred (Gunza) Stellingwerf on Dec. 12, 1936, he was 84.
John is survived by his daughters Tracy Stellingwerf and Kate Collica (Anthony); sisters Ruth Luna (Anthony) and Susan Cane (Jeffrey); three grandchildren and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his daughter Donna Anthonisen and sister Sonia Etlinger.
In the 1950s, John swam for the New Jersey State American Athletic Union, earning a scholarship to Princeton University. Like many at that time, he chose instead to enlist in the U.S. Army. He was assigned to the counter-intelligence corps where he served from 1955 – 1960.
After graduating with a B.S. in business from Rutgers University, he worked for Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals for 35 years. In his retirement, he was a marketing consultant for hospital pharmacies.
John was the owner of American Black Belt Martial Arts for 50 years. Hanshi Stellingwerf learned karate while in Korea and eventually earned a tenth degree black belt, the highest degree conferred, and he was president of the US Goshin Ryu Karate Association in 1972 and from 1992–2017.
John was also past president and commander of the Korean War Veterans’ Association, Post 202, Orange County, an organization he held in the highest regard.
An avid outdoorsman, John’s first love was his home in the Catskill Mountains in Delhi, where he hunted and fished since 1965.
John will be greatly missed by his loving family and friends for his friendly, outgoing personality, his tall tales and his prankster sense of humor.
Services will be private. Pastor Kevin Hossink will officiate. A memorial service will be planned at a later date when all can safely attend.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Cyclic Vomiting Association, P.O. Box 270341, Milwaukee, WI 53227 (www.cvsaonline.org), or the Korean War Veterans’ Association, Post 202, 901 Goshen Turnpike, Circleville, NY 10919.
Arrangements were entrusted to Lazear-Smith & Vander Plaat Memorial Home. To send an online condolence, visit www.lsvpmemorialhome.com.