John Franklin Kanoy, 71

FELTON - John Franklin Kanoy, of Felton, passed away Sunday, June 15, 2008, at Bayhealth-Milford Memorial Hospital, after a brave battle with a long illness. He was 71.

He was born in Dunn, N.C., on May 24, 1937. He was the youngest child of the late William C. and Verdice (Saunders) Kanoy.

John was a Korean War veteran, having joined the U.S. Air Force in January 1955. He later arrived at Dover Air Force Base in December 1956.

During his time at Dover Air Force Base, he met his future wife, Janet Rentz, and they married July 21, 1957, in Frederica.

The Kanoys proudly celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with family and friends last July.

Upon being honorably discharged from the Air Force, John remained in Delaware, working and retiring from General Foods (Kraft), Kimberly-Clark and Procter & Gamble.

His interests included nature, his purple martin colonies, antique tractors and frequenting auctions.

He was blessed with a green thumb and enjoyed working in his greenhouses for many years.

In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his siblings, William, Jean, Mary Helen and Joseph.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by three daughters, Karen Sach and her husband John of Magnolia, Kimberly Stockslager and her husband Michael of Wyoming and Kelly Simonetti and her husband Paul of Millington, Md.; his precious grandchildren, Melinda Mis of Magnolia, Jonathon Cook of Ohio, Jennifer Cook of Wyoming and triplets Ashlyn, Alexander and Abigail Simonetti of Millington; two step-grandchildren, J.C. Sach of Felton and Jenna Sach of Milford; and his sister, Kathryne Hamill and her husband Haywood of Enfield, N.C.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Thursday in the chapel of Berry-Short Funeral Home, Main Street, Felton, where friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday.

Interment will be in Barratt's Chapel Cemetery, Frederica.