John attended Southeast High School in Lincoln, Nebraska and graduated from Lake Travis High School in 1987 where he played baseball and football. He graduated from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas in 1993. He worked for his brother Phil’s business called Austin-Tetra, a data processing and technology company, for several years in Dallas, Texas after college. He returned to the Lake Travis Lake area where he started an underground water sprinkler business. In 2005 he returned to Lincoln and worked for the City of Lincoln. He then moved to Tecumseh, Nebraska where he worked for the Burlington Northern Railroad. Lately he worked for Federal Express in Norfolk, Nebraska and for his brother Chris’ underground sprinkler business called Neptune Sprinklers in Austin.
John was a loving father to his four children, son, and sibling to his four sisters and two brothers. He was a real outdoorsman and loved to go to the lake with family and friends. He helped erect some above-ground boat ramps at Hurst Harbor during high school. He loved going to his parents ranch outside Austin and cutting down cedar trees and riding horses. Just being outside was his thing! He loved playing golf and bantering with his brothers-in-law from Nebraska when they came to Texas. He enjoyed setting up an above-ground swimming pool, trampoline and basketball goal in the back yard for his family. John had recently gone on a venture riding a motorcycle through the woods and hills of East Texas with a friend. He said it was the most fun he had in a long time. John will be missed by his whole family and friends. It is comforting to know that he is now with his Heavenly Father. He will be in our hearts forever!
He is survived by his four children, Tim, Emma, Dalton and Ava Berkebile; his mother, Judy Berkebile, his brothers, Phil (Tonna) and Chris Berkebile, his sisters, Valerie (Don) Gibbens, Madelyn (John) Clark, Janet Branic and Andrea Berkebile; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. John was preceded in death by his father, Phil Berkebile.
A memorial service will be held, at 12:30 p.m. on February 19th at the First United Methodist Church on West Harvey Street, in Wellington, Kansas.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Wellington Humane Society.