John I. Calentine, Jr.
July 10, 1940 ~ November 11, 2016
John Irl Calentine, Jr., age 76, passed away peacefully and graciously surrounded by his family, Friday, November 11, 2016 at his home in New Braunfels, Texas.
He was born July 10, 1940 in Kerrville, Texas. He has worked steadily since the age of 12 when he began hauling hay on his uncle's farm. He was a 1959 graduate of Seguin High School. He joined the Army National Guard and served in the HHSB 4th Bn 133d Artillery in New Braunfels. He learned to cut hair in the military in the early 1960s, and owned a local barber shop for about 15 years. In 1968, he began his career as a Reserve Comal County Sheriff Deputy. He rose to the rank of lieutenant before becoming a bailiff in 1995. He was a Master Mason in Alamo Lodge No. 44 and York Rite Mason of the Blue Bonnet Chapter #470 and Blue Bonnet Council #409. He was a member of New Braunfels Elks Lodge #2279. He hung up his holster after 44 years behind the badge in 2012. In his spare time, he loved to hunt, fish, listen to music, dance, travel in his RV and visit with friends.
He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Jessica Glover Calentine; his son, John Irl Calentine, III and wife, Carol; his daughter, Rebecca Christine "Christy" Hopper and husband, Gary; his step-son, Christopher Marcus Horak and wife, Niccole; his step-daughter, Aimee Nichole Horak; grandchildren, Dallas Hopper (Crystal), Ashley Hopper, John Wesley Calentine (Jessica), Miranda Horak, Layne Horak and Rylee Horak; great-grandchildren, Olive Duhamel and Jayden Calentine; his sister, Anna Durant and husband, Ronnie; his step-sister, Susan Predmore and husband, Larry; his sister-in-law, Lisa Burnett and husband Duane, and several nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, John Irl Calentine, Sr; his mother, Eunice Mae Dubose; his sister; Carrie Mae Holub; his step-mother, Dorothy May Calentine; and his granddaughter, Raegan Brooke Horak.
A special thanks goes to his "Aimoo" and "Holly Who?" for assisting with his care for the last couple of months. The family would also like to thank all of the nurses and support staff of Hope Hospice of New Braunfels for providing such excellent, loving care through his time of special need. Thanks to all of the friends and members of the Gruene United Methodist Church for all their prayers and support.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations to be made to Hope Hospice of New Braunfels.
A Celebration of Life service will be at 2:00 p.m. on November 21, 2016 at Gruene United Methodist Church in New Braunfels, Texas.
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Sincere condolences to John’s family. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Ours deepest condolences to the Calentine family. My mother and father were great friend of there’s for many years. I have found memories of spending time with them at their home. My father, Robert C Molina, is deeply saddened to have lost a great old friend. My mother, Ninfa Molina, also sends her condolences. May his family, friends and loved ones find peace and comfort during this time.
Sad news, John and I have been friends for many years. He was a fine Officer of the Law and the finest District Court Bailiff who served his Judges faithfully and well. When he opened court with a large jury panel, it was a thing of beauty. His booming voice and demeanor let all know who was in charge. He established and was appointed head of Courthouse security, which he accomplished in rapid time, to protect the public and the courthouse employees. My heart goes out to Jessie and the family. Robert T. Pfeuffer Senior District Judge Comal County Texas
We are soooo sorry for your loss! We have known John for many years and know he will be missed by many!!!
Prayers for the entire family! Praying for peace, Rodney& Margie Skolaut
Love and Prayers for your family! He was one of the kindest men I knew. He taught me so much we I first got out of Beauty School. He was a very kind man with a very big heart. He will be greatly missed.
My deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Calentine. You are in my thoughts and prayers
I’m so sorry to hear of John’s passing. Lin and I both have known him for many years. He was the most cheerful, kind yet professional person. Praying for peace and comfort.
I am so sorry to here about his passing. He was a wonderful man!! Prayers for your family.
We are so sorry Jessie. He was a great man but you know that. He was always so kind. We will never forget him.
Sending my deepest condolences to the family. What a sweet man he was. May he rest in peace & may the Lord comfort his family.
As a newish attorney in the Comal County Courthouse, he was one of my first friends there and he took me under his wing and started calling me “Ms. Boots”. I will never forget his friendship and kindness. He was an amazing man. Prayers for peace and comfort for his family.
I am sorry to hear about Good Friend. Sending my prayers to the family
So send to hear this John was one-of-a-kind always so friendly and helpful I looked forward to seeing his smiling face when I was at court.
Sincerest condolences on the losss of this great man.
I am so very sorry to hear of the loss of your father. My thoughts are with you.
We are so sorry for your loss. John was the Sweetest man and always kind to everyone he met. You will all be reunited in the end. May you all find peace and comfort.
Sorry for your loss, prayers to family.
We are so sorry for your loss. Our deepest sympathy to all of the family.
My condolences to the entire family. John was a good man. May knowing that he rest in peace now bring you comfort. May all of your memories of him bring you peace.
Oh, what a genuinely nice man he was. He always made me smile when I would see him at the courthouse.
A wonderful Texas spirit he espoused while bailiff… I remember him at the courthouse always pleasant and helpful with his big smile under the handlebar mustache ..condolences to his family
I always held him with the most respect and awe. I will miss him and the awesomeness he brought in a room with his presents.
I got to know John when he was the District Court Bailiff in Comal County. He was a professional, and always kept the Courthouse staff and public safe. He was also wise, and would share his thoughts if you were smart enough to listen. Whenever I think of John, I think about that framed picture he had in his office that said: “friends are like elevator buttons, they can take you up, or they can take you down.” I think that John was a positive influence on all his friends, and undoubtedly took us “up.” John was a good man, and will be missed. Judge Randy Gray, Comal County Court at Law #1
I will always remember John – such a nice man. One of Jim Cornelius’ oldest friends. Go with God, John.
I have known John for years. He was a good man. God’s blessings to his family.
Carol! I’m so sorry! My deepest condolences to your you, your husband and your family.
So sorry for your loss. Our deepest condolences. We will all miss his sense of humor and strong moral character.
I have such good memories of going to Mr. Calentine’s barber shop to have my hair cut when I was a little boy. John would always playfully tease me, and I would always get a piece of bubble gum when he was finished with my hair. What a nice man! My condolences to his family and friends on his passing. I am so sorry for your great loss. I will remember John with fondness and affection.
Rest in Peace John and please stand guard over all of us left down here who need a guiding hand. May the good Lord watch over your family and friends especially at this time of hour passing. You will be missed!
John was a great man and a great friend. He was kind, but very firm in the courtroom. I have many wonderful memories of being in court with John whether it was a few minutes or weeks. He protected the court and assisted where he could. John, you will be missed. God Bless you and your family.
Gonna miss you John. We had some good times in high school.
I did John’s outprocessing when he left the County. He left with a full heart and proud of what he had done. He was always such a gentleman! Never and an ugly word out of his mouth and a big smile always. Well Big John, you are in the wild blue yonder now. Take care
I had the privilege of meeting John several times. He was always pleasant and positive. I hope God holds all his family and friends close while you adjust to life here without his input.
My love and prayers remain with all of you.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. God bless. Leroy and Mary Alves
We lost one of the “Good Guys”. Johnny was lots of fun in our high school days and quite the cut/up! May he Rest In Peace.
Love and prayers for the entire family. He became the dad that he didn’t need to be but loved doing it. May The Lord heal the pain and leave happy, loving memories. He was one heck of a man!!
Praying for your family! Love Mr. Calentine!
Prayers for all…for peace and Comfort…
Our deepest sympathy to the family. Stephen, Shirley, and David Germann Dorothy Altenhof
Though I didn’t know him, my heart goes out to his family on their loss. Expressing my condolences to the family at this sad time.
I am so sorry. As an attorney living in San Marcos forever John was a delightful feature in the Courthouse. I am sorry for your earthly loss but John is now in a better place where we all hope to be someday. So, from someone you don’t know may I tell you that John was very well regarded by all.
My condolences go out to the family. Want to thank him and his family for all his years he gave to to serve his country.
A fair amount of my hair hit the floor due to the scissors of this man. He was the epitome of a small town barber – friendly, and one of the most informed men in town! He also gave me my first job – shining shoes for $.25 per pair ($.50 for boots). I am sad to hear of this legendary man’s passing. Godspeed, John.
My sincere condolences to his family. I remember John from high school days and class reunions! May he rest in peace in the arms of a loving God.
Our love and prayers to your family.
Carol, You & John are in our thoughts & prayers during this time of loss. May the peace of The Lord be with you.
John: You were my barber, my bailiff, my hunting buddy, and most of all my good friend. To put it in your parlance, I guess you’re finally in Heaven “with Jesus and the Boys.” I like to think that maybe you are having a cold one with Howard Dietz and Dale Moeller. I miss you. My thoughts and prayers are with Jessie and your entire family. Judge Jack Robison
He always had a good story to tell. It was a pleasure working with John at “John’s Clip Joint”. My sympathy to his family and friends.
I cant tell you how many times that Jurors ask me how John is doing. He touched many many lives in his service to the District Court. He was and will forever be a Courthouse legend!
John,Uncle Irl and Butch are are having a great time in Heaven right now. John is in a place where he can be his old self. He has a lot of love ones with him and is surrounded with love. He was one of a kind and was one of my favorite cousins He used to play jacks with Evelyn and me when we were kids. Always fun to be around. My granddaughter remember him twitching his mastache, they thought that was so funny. He will be missed very much. May God Bless the family and, may His face shine upon you and give you peace.
John was a very special man. He started cutting my hair when I was 13 and went on to cut my son’s hair for many years. He definitely touched many lives. He was there supporting me through some of the hardest times in my life. Even if we didn’t talk for a while I always knew he was there. Thank you for everything John. He will be so missed. God Bless you and your family. My condolence to all his family.
Mr. Calentine was such a kind, sweet man….No matter where you saw him that infectious smile always brightened your day. My thoughts and prayers to family and friends. Rest in Peace John
John is with Jesus now, bowing before his King. He’ll be checking out all the sights of heaven soon. Good going John. We’ll be seein’ ya in our time.
“God Bless Texas and this Honorable Court” were John’s words when opening District Court as Bailiff. May he rest in peace. Condolences to John’s loved ones.
I am very sorry to hear about your family member loss. God Bless You All!!! Take care of yourselves!!! I will be praying for you all.
Sorry to hear or John’s passing. I knew John for at least 40 years through the Sheriff’s Reserves and the Sheriff’s Office. He was some kind of guy. I can still see him standing in the front of the District Court Room with his thumbs hooked in his duty belt, looking over the courtroom with a look that said, I won’t tolerate any nonsense in my courtroom and him sitting at his desk, leaning back with a big cigar in his hand with a big smile on his face while stroking his mustache. I will miss him. My condolences to his family.
My deepest Condolences to the Valentine family. I was saddened to hear the news of Officer Valentine. He was a very courteous and always smiling, at everyone. Rest In Peace. God Bless his family. May God grant you Strength and comfort during this difficult time.
John, you were loved and will be missed. When I was first elected District Judge you were the paternal bailiff of my court. You supported me, mentored me and made me feel welcome. You set the standard! That picture we see on you obituary still sits in my chambers as a reminder of selfless public service and because you were my friend. I respected you as much or more than anybody I worked with in my four county jurisdiction. I always knew I was protected and loved. You were loved back and will be missed!
Our deepest sympathies to you all. You are on our thoughts and prayers. Love Ron and Barbara Robertson and family
Our thoughts and prayers are with your family. Much love, Sherry, Steve, Kyle & Sarah Schneider
John was my partner in court for 15 years but more than that he was my friend. His willingness to help me in everything I did had a profound impact on my life. John treated me and my family as if we were his own and for that I am truly grateful. I will miss the hunting stories and the stories of patrolling River Road in the old days. See you later my friend. We love you!
Our deepest sympathies to the Calentine family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
John was my good friend at the courthouse. With sympathies to his family and his many friends. He will be missed by all of us who got to know this good man.
So sorry for your loss, Jess. I so enjoyed working with John. He had a way of keeping the office lively and colorful. May he Rest In Peace and may you and the family find comfort in knowing that there are a lot of us that are praying and thinking of you. Good bye to one of the last of the old-fashioned cowboys. We will miss you.
My deepest sympathies to his family. He was a wonderful friend. He will be truely missed.
Please accept our deepest sympathy. John was a fine man, and a friend to all. Love and prayers for his family.
My thoughts and prayers are with you, God bless
My deepest sympathies to the Calentine Family. I too was blessed to have worked with you, John. You always showed concern for our safety and welfare. You were professional and respectful to everyone. You were a dear co-worker, friend and missed by many. Thank you for all your years of service.
Dear Jessica, So very sorry to hear about John’s passing. I know that he was such a wonderful and special man. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers during this most difficult time. Much love to you!