John Kohut, III,78

John Kohut, III, 78, of Boonton Township, NJ, passed away on February 21, 2023 at the home he built in Boonton Township.

Funeral service will be held at Dangler Lewis & Carey Funeral Home on February 27 at 11 AM with Pastor Dawn Maffetone of Rockaway Valley United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will follow at St. Mary Cemetery in Boonton. Visitation will be held from 2-6 PM on February 26. Dangler Lewis & Carey Funeral Home will be handling the funeral arrangements.

John (aka “Big John”, “The Rodfather”, “Brother” and “Poppy”) was born in Morristown, NJ to John, Jr. and Anita Kohut on February 13, 1945. He attended Boonton High School. He worked as a commercial air conditioning technician at Air-Perme-Ator in Paterson, NJ where he learned welding skills used to launch his own welding business. He also sold and installed woodburning stoves before launching John Kohut III & Son Landscaping in 1985. He created artistic stonework, and continued to own and operate his landscaping business until retirement.

John was very active socially, including serving as cruise director for The Wanderers Car Club in Sussex, NJ. He also played Santa Claus for the car club and Condurso’s Garden Center in Montville, NJ.

He was an avid outdoorsman, and enjoyed hunting, fishing and snowmobiling. He was an admirer of antique cars and car shows, attended many car shows where he won many trophies as a participant showing his own two antique cars.

John is survived by his wife of 56 years, Maria (nee Como) of Boonton Township; son, John, IV; daughter, Lisa Franklin (Christopher); grandchildren Steven, Andrew and Jessica; sisters Anita and Melanie Yakstis (Anthony). He is preceded in death by sister, Marcia and brother, William.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Atlantic Health Hospice.