John Frederick Uhlendorf Sr., age 70, of Seminole, Florida, passed away leaving behind a lifetime of cherished memories and a family who loved him deeply.
John was born on February 1, 1956, in Wood-Ridge, New Jersey, to Frederick John “Sonny” Uhlendorf. He and his sister, Diane, grew up in Paterson, New Jersey, before their family eventually moved to Florida to begin a new chapter in their lives. John graduated from Seminole High School in 1975.
Nine years later, in 1984, he would meet the love of his life, Griselda Ann Uhlendorf. Griselda came into their relationship with two young children, Michelle, who was five, and Steven, who was two. From the very beginning, John welcomed them into his heart and his life, loving and raising them as his own.
On June 15, 1986, John and Griselda were married, beginning a beautiful journey that would span the next 40 years. Together, they built a life rooted in love, family, hard work, and unwavering dedication. They welcomed two children of their own, April and John Jr., completing the family they cherished so deeply.
John’s greatest accomplishment was his family. He was a very hands-on dad who made it a priority to be involved in his children’s lives. He was always finding ways to spend time together, whether it was taking the kids to the park or beach on the weekends, or heading outside after school for a game of basketball, kickball, or volleyball. He loved being active with them, but he also enjoyed the quieter moments, like sitting down together to play board games, like yatzee or monopoly.
No matter what they were doing, John made sure every child felt included, even the neighborhood kids. Those everyday moments created memories that his children will cherish forever.
Not only does he leave behind his wife and his 4 children but He was also a proud grandfather to Destiny, Serenity, Dominick, Noah, Alyssa, Dakota & Colton as well as 3 bonus grandchildren Selena, Devin, & Jacob.
On top of being a very hardworking and protective family man, John was also incredibly innovative and resourceful. He truly was a jack of all trades. There was very little he couldn’t figure out. He could fix just about anything, and when something appeared to be broken beyond repair, John never simply accepted that it couldn’t be fixed. He would study it, figure it out, improvise, and somehow find a way to make it work. If there was a problem, John would find a solution. That determination and ingenuity were a part of who he was.
He was a man of strong opinions and an unforgettable personality. John was beyond stubborn, and everyone who knew him probably has a story to prove it. He was known for his quick wit, sarcasm, and endless supply of dad jokes. He had a stubbornness that was almost legendary, and he firmly believed that everything had a place—and everything belonged in its place. Those little quirks that could drive his family crazy at times are now the very memories they will treasure most.
But underneath the sarcasm and stubbornness was a man who paid attention. John had an incredible knack for reading people. He could tell when something was bothering you even when you insisted you were fine. And he wouldn’t let it go. He would keep asking, keep checking, and keep pushing until you finally admitted what was wrong. It was his way of saying, “I know you, I see you and I care about you.”
His family will remember him in all the ways that made him uniquely John: his stubbornness, his sarcasm, his quick wit, his dad jokes, his ability to fix absolutely anything, and his determination to never give up on a problem—or on the people he loved.
He was the man you called when something broke. He was the man who would figure it out when nobody else could. He was the man who noticed when you weren’t okay.
He was the man who protected his family and worked tirelessly to provide for them.
He was Dad.
The hole he leaves behind cannot be filled and unfortunately the one thing he can not fix this time. His family will carry his lessons, his stories, his humor, his stubbornness, and his love with them for the rest of their lives.
John Frederick Uhlendorf Sr. was a husband, a father, a grandfather, a protector, a provider, an innovator, and a man who could fix just about anything.He will be loved beyond words, missed beyond measure, and remembered for generations to come.
This isn’t goodbye, Dad. It’s “I’ll see you later.”
Until then, you will live on in every story we tell, every lesson you taught us, every problem we figure out, and every moment we look around wishing you were there to tell us how to fix it.
We love you. We miss you. And we’ll see you later.
