John Joseph Rakos, age 57, joined his loved ones in Heaven on September 14th, 2022. He passed peacefully in his home with family. True to his character, John courageously fought pancreatic cancer for over two years with unlimited faith and love. He never let cancer get the best of him, despite the hardships he endured. Through it all, John insisted he did not need a bucket list. He strongly believed he lived his best life with no regrets. He will forever be remembered for his giving nature, eternal optimism, ability to always make people laugh and his unconditional love for his family, no matter what.
John was a devoted, loving husband to Sharon and an incredible father for his daughters, Jessica and Melissa. We must alsomention how much John cherished Angel, his silly puppy dog.He was born in Minneapolis, MN and was the first of three children born to Joseph and Roberta Rakos. John grew up with his brother Jim Rakos and sister Lynn Mandinec. Some of his fondest childhood memories took place “up north” spending time with family and being surrounded by nature.
After graduating college from the University of Minnesota, John embarked on his 35-year career in Scrap Metals Recycling. He enjoyed building professional and personal relationships with everyone he met along the way. He held his colleagues and the friendships he made in the highest regard.
John met his life partner, Sharon, in Toledo, OH. They were married in 1993 and continued to build their family and life together in the Midwest. Through the years, they all shared a life filled with many extraordinary adventures, endless laugher, and exponential love.
John preferred to be outdoors and called himself an “action-Jackson” kind of guy. He introduced the adventures of boating, camping and skiing to his wife and daughters. He rarely got embarrassed and enjoyed being silly, especially when times were tough. He had a hard time sitting still and projects always magically got done when he was around. He was the most dependable person in all of our lives. John was always willing to drop what he was doing to help in the moment, stranger or not. He even had a knack for rescuing many stranded watercrafts.
John was a numbers and math lover. In work and in recreation, he was always measuring the odds and formulating a win for all. He was also known for his consistent leadership and providing great advice, along with a laugh. He was quick with his “cowboy math” and loved to greet friends and loved ones with a cheery “Good Morning Sunshine!” He was comfortable living life on the edge and skilled in managing risks. John had a competitive edge that never dulled, but was modest with the achievements he earned. However, he was not shy about sharing his daughter’s accomplishments.
John inspired those around him to be the best version of themselves, and to live by faith, family, and fun. He gave the best of himself to everyone, every single day. We are all truly blessed to have been within his orbit. He had a profound impact on us all. He will be dearly missed.
We would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of love, prayers and support provided now and over the years. He truly had an army of supporters backing him throughout his life journey.
Flowers may be sent to The Church of the Ascension. In lieu of sending flowers, please consider donating to a charity below.
Cancer Action – Must be mailed to 10520 Barkley, Suite 100 Overland Park, KS 66212
Catholic Charities of NE Kansas – CatholicCharitiesKS.org
The funeral mass will take place at Church of the Ascension on September 26th, 2022 at 10:00am, followed by a luncheon in the Parish Hall. The church address is 9510 W 127th St, Overland Park, KS 66213. The service will be live streamed at https://kcascension.org/