John Anthony Cavanaugh
Celebration of life: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. July 21 at Landmark Church, Strafford. Arrangements were under the direction of Greenlawn Funeral Home, Springfield. Private services will be held in September in California, where his ashes will be spread.
Memorials can be made at gofundme.com/cancer-sucks-we-support-john.
John Anthony Cavanaugh, 51, was born Oct. 12, 1965, in Los Angeles to John Russell and Wendy Jean (Ross) Cavanaugh. He died July 2, 2017, from cancer.
On Oct. 10, 1994, he was united in marriage with Christina Lee Cardenaz.
He was self-employed for many years, doing what he enjoyed in helping others with their health goals and growth in business. Most important to him was his Catholic faith, his family and his Irish heritage.
He was a dreamer and a romantic from an early age. In his younger years, he was very experienced in martial arts and enjoyed waterskiing and rock climbing. He loved baseball and was a devoted Dodgers fan, and a Notre Dame and Rams football fan.
He attended Spartan College in Tulsa, Okla., where he received his pilot’s license and became a flight instructor. He enjoyed intellectual discourse and was very well read. He loved to travel and always enjoyed the outdoors, especially when he was spending time with family and friends.
He long will be remembered for his perseverance and strength in spirit as he endured his physical health battle. He loved the Lord and was a man of strong faith, believing in the beauty and peace that would await him after his death. He shared his faith often with his family and friends throughout his life by his example and by encouraging others as well.
John was preceded in death by his mother.
Survivors included his wife of 22 years, Christina Lee Cavanaugh, Fair Grove; his children: Cerena Lee and husband, Kaleb Kaps, and Kyle Morgan Cavanaugh, all of Springfield, Connel Michael Cavanaugh, Branson, and Malachai Jensen Cavanaugh and Urijah River Cavanaugh, both of the home; his father, John Russell Cavanaugh, Canoga Park, Calif.; his brothers: Doug Cavanaugh, Canoga Park, Calif., and Tom and wife, Jodi Cavanaugh, and their children, Ciara and Timothy, all of Granada Hills, Calif.; his father- and mother-in-law, Gene and Carole Cardenaz, Burbank, Calif.; and many more dear family and friends.
