John Sekula

John Clements Sekula, 85, passed away on November 1, 2026, at Halifax Health Hospice Care Center in Orange City, Florida. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, entrepreneur, veteran, and friend, John lived a life defined by determination, resourcefulness, generosity, and an unwavering love for his family.

John was born on April 23, 1941, in Flushing, Queens, New York, to John K. Sr. and Lottie Bielawa Sekula. The oldest of three children, John grew up with a love of baseball that began on the sandlots alongside his father, who managed a local team known as the Jewelers, affiliated with the New York Yankees. As a boy, John spent countless hours around the baseball field and even had the opportunity to spend time in the dugout with legendary Yankees players Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, and Mickey Mantle. Those early experiences sparked a lifelong devotion to the New York Yankees, a passion he proudly passed down through generations of his family.

In 1958, John answered the call to serve his country by enlisting in the United States Navy. As an Ordnanceman, he worked with naval weapons, ammunition, and ordnance equipment, spending much of his four years of service aboard aircraft carriers. He was honorably discharged and transferred to the Naval Reserve. Among his many Navy stories, one of his most memorable involved Hurricane Donna. Rather than remain in his bunk, John ventured to the flight deck, where he tied himself to an anchor windlass so he could watch the front of the ship rise out of and plunge back into the ocean. When he finally decided he had seen enough, he had to carefully time his return through the hatch between the waves to avoid being swept overboard or having the lower decks flooded. It was just one example of John's adventurous spirit and fearless curiosity.

Following his military service, John became a New York City police officer. He patrolled various areas of Manhattan and later worked undercover in the Narcotics Division, covering Spanish Harlem. His law enforcement career came to an end in 1983 after he sustained an injury in the line of duty, and he retired from the department.

On August 26, 1973, John married the love of his life, Jeanette, beginning a marriage that would span nearly 52 years. Together, they built a life filled with love, family, adventure, and countless memories. Before relocating to DeLand, Florida, in 1983, they made their home in East Meadow, New York. They chose DeLand because of their family's connections to the area, including John's parents, who had moved there in 1970, and his beloved aunt and uncle, Julie and Wallace Conklin. Over the years, Wally and Julie’s Restaurant became a cherished part of the family’s history, filled with countless special memories.

John was an entrepreneur at heart and never one to shy away from a new opportunity. Throughout his lifetime, he owned several businesses, including gas stations, automotive repair shops, and a real estate firm, eventually retiring from his residential real estate appraisal company. His business sense, independence, and entrepreneurial spirit were qualities he passed along to his children, who share his love of building something of their own. John also served as President of the West Volusia Board of Realtors, contributing his time and leadership to the local real estate community.

His commitment to his community extended well beyond his professional life. John was a member of the DeLand Breakfast Rotary Club and a charter member of the Downtown DeLand Rotary Club. In recognition of his dedication and service, he was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow. He was also part of the original group responsible for starting the DeLand Bike Rally and enjoyed giving back to the community by coaching youth soccer.

An avid golfer, John was a longtime member of the DeLand Country Club, where he made many wonderful memories and enjoyed friendly competition. Golf was more than a hobby for him, and his accomplishments on the course were a source of great pride. His golfing highlights included a hole-in-one on the 16th hole in 2002, winning the Second Flight Championship in the 2003 Club Championship, becoming the 2012 Super Senior Champion in the Men's Club Championship, and winning the 2009 Member-Guest Golf Tournament alongside his good friend Warren Todd.

Outside of golf, John enjoyed fishing, boating, riding his motorcycle, watching baseball, and, above all, spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He and Jeanette shared a love of traveling, with some of their favorite adventures taking them to Poland and Scotland. Whether enjoying a day on the water, working on a project in his garage, or cheering on the Yankees, John found happiness in life's simple pleasures and in the company of those he loved.

To his family, John was affectionately known as their very own "MacGyver." He was exceptionally resourceful and could fix or build just about anything with whatever materials happened to be available. He loved tinkering in his garage and was always willing to lend a helping hand. Humble and kind, John never hesitated to help someone in need. He also had a signature response, "Whateva," which he used regularly, sometimes at just the right moment and sometimes at precisely the wrong one. It was one of those little things that made him unmistakably John and will undoubtedly bring a smile to the faces of those who knew him.

John was also a fighter in every sense of the word. Throughout the later years of his life, he faced more medical challenges than most could imagine, yet time and again, he found the strength to overcome them. He battled renal cell carcinoma and underwent a kidney removal, recovered from a broken back, endured heart bypass surgery, and even bounced back from gallbladder surgery in just a week. No matter what life put in his way, John had a remarkable ability to get back up and keep going.

When cancer returned, he faced that challenge with the same strength, determination, and resilience that had carried him through so many difficult moments. He continued living life with the same spirit that had always defined him, and most importantly, he never gave up. Even in his final days, he was still fighting. Anyone who knew John understood that quitting simply was not in his nature. Though his body had finally endured more than it could bear, his determination never wavered. Through his example, he taught his family the meaning of resilience, courage, and never taking a single day for granted.

John was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Jeanette Sekula, who passed away on March 14, 2025; his parents, John K. Sekula Sr. and Lottie Bielawa Sekula; and his nephew, Timothy Jump.

He leaves behind a loving family who will forever cherish his memory: his daughters, Jeanine L. Bonk and her husband, Eric, and Jacqueline Record and her husband, Scott; his son, John C. Sekula and his wife, Jackie; his grandchildren, Stanton and Emmett Bonk, Spencer Record, and John and Brooke Sekula; his sister, MaryAnn Jump; his brother, Richard Sekula and his wife, Linda; his niece, Deborah Jump Adler; and his nephews, Christopher Jump, Richard Sekula Jr., and Nicholas Sekula. His legacy of determination, ingenuity, kindness, and love will live on through each of them.

John's life was one of adventure, hard work, service, laughter, and unwavering devotion to those he loved. He was a man who could fix almost anything, face nearly any challenge, and always find a way forward. Though he will be deeply missed, the stories, lessons, memories, and love he leaves behind will remain with his family and friends for generations to come.

A celebration of John's life will be held on Friday, November 20, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Lankford Funeral Home in DeLand, Florida. A luncheon reception will follow from 12:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. at Victoria Hills Golf Club in DeLand.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in John's honor to one of the following organizations:

Coastal Florida Police Benevolent Association 810 Fentress Court, Suite 150 Daytona Beach, FL 32117

DeLand Little League Chipper Jones Baseball Complex (DLL) 403 S. Alabama Avenue DeLand, FL 32724