John Raymond Kekacs, 67, of Preston, Idaho, died September 22, after a battle with a bacterial infection in his blood that resulted in liver and kidney failure. He was the son of John A. Kekacs and Grace Jean (Judson) Kekacs.

His siblings and their spouses, Pamela and Peter Masella of Newtown, and Raymond and Susan Kekacs of Southington; his wife, Marilyn McQuarrie Kekacs; his sons and their spouses, Paul and Jennifer Kekacs of Roy, Utah, and Scott and Elisha Kekacs of Maple Grove, Minn; his mother, Grace Jean Kekacs of Southbury; nieces and nephews; and several great-nieces survive him. Marilyn’s daughters and their spouses, Stefanie and James Cragun of Ogden, Utah, and Kami and Kregg Thomassen of Taylor, Utah; and grandchildren became his family. Altogether, he had 17 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

His son, John Andrew Kekacs, and his father, John Andrew Kekacs, predeceased him.

Growing up in Stratford, Mr Kekacs graduated from Frank Scott Bunnell High School in 1969. That July, he enlisted in the Air Force to serve his country and did a tour of duty in Vietnam before being stationed at Hill Air Force Base in Utah in 1972. He continued his work as a munitions weapons expert until his retirement in September 2012.

He married Marilyn McQuarrie in July of 1999; they were later sealed in the Logan, UT, LDS temple. The two were best friends and went everywhere together.

There will be a service October 5, at 11 am, at Roy City Cemetery, 5200 South 2300 West, Roy, Utah, will military honors. A memorial in his honor will follow from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at the LDS meeting house, 5080 South 3100 West, Roy, Utah.