Tezon Jr., John Charles

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John Charles Tezon Jr., 71, of Kansas City, Missouri, and recently Paris, Missouri, passed from this life into the next on Saturday, December 26, 2020, at the Veterans’ Hospital in Columbia, Missouri, due to complications from COVID-19. At his side were his beloved wife and best friend of 35 years, Robin and their children. A visitation will be held from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm, with a celebration of John’s life immediately following, on Saturday, June 12, 2021, at Park Lawn Northland Chapel, I-35 at State Route 291, Liberty, Missouri (across from Pleasant Valley Baptist Church). John’s wishes were cremation. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given in John's memory to the American Heart Association at www.heart.org or Boys Town at www.boystown.org.

John was born on Sunday, October 16, 1949, to Delphine and John Tezon Sr., in Kansas City, Missouri. He grew up in south KC and graduated from Center High School. John enlisted in the United States Navy after graduating, but was honorably discharged a few months later due to medical reasons.

In the early 70’s, John began his 30-plus year career as a First Responder in Emergency Medical Services. It has been said that he began his life in the ambulance, back in the “Scoop and Run” days, at a time when Kansas City EMS as we know it today was in its infancy. He worked in multiple roles over the years, including Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic, Flight Paramedic, Field Supervisor and Operations Supervisor for such companies including Physicians Exchange, Ambulance Services Incorporated, Medevac Mid-America, Emergency Providers Incorporated and—prior to his retirement in the mid 2000’s—working as Logistics Manager for Metropolitan Ambulance Services Trust.

Over the years John shared the highlights of his rewarding career with his family, such as having personally delivered around 20 babies, being the 20^th Paramedic Licensee (DM-0020) in the state of Missouri and playing a vital role in the forming of Kansas City’s first union for EMS workers (IAFF Local I-34). There were “heart-warming” and “off-color” stories he shared on more than one occasion, which usually involved being shot at or wrestling combative patients in back of his unit; it wasn’t uncommon for this to occur immediately after introducing such patients to his friend, Narcan.

There’s also a darker side to a life in EMS. John spoke of the extreme physical and psychological demands of the job, particularly the tolls it takes on one’s body and mental health. On rare occasion he conveyed the helplessness one experiences when unable to save a life, especially due to circumstances beyond control. One such occasion included the Hyatt Regency bridge collapse in July of ’81, citing it as the worst mass causality event he witnessed.   John, along with his brothers and sisters serving as First Responders, share a unique calling: no matter the circumstance, they will be there to answer the call in service to their community.

John will also be remembered as a family man. He met the love of his life, Robin L. Sinkclear, in the early ‘80’s and the two were married December 14, 1985. They always had each other’s back and were together through thick and thin, along with their five children.

John enjoyed family vacations and was especially fond of visiting Robin’s parents’ farm outside of Paris, Missouri. Springtime meant fishing season, where he and his father-in-law, Albert, along with his children would go fishing on Mark Twain Lake.  In addition to fishing, John’s other passions include deer hunting, music, binge watching Frazier, and admittedly, anything from Hallmark or History channels.

In 2017, John and Robin moved to Paris, Missouri, where he worked for the US Postal Service as a rural mail courier. He enjoyed driving down the gravel roads, taking in nature and recording his visual findings along the way, while jamming out to his classic rock playlists. John was ever grateful to spend his final years in the country and found peace, sitting on his back porch in the mornings with a cup of coffee.

John is preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws, Rhonda (Yager) and Albert L. Sinkclear; and brothers, Lee Mitchell (and spouse Teresa) and Marshall Tezon. He leaves behind his beloved wife and their children: DeAnna Waite, John “Joey” Tezon III and spouse Ashley, Jesse Tezon and fiancée Morgan, Aimee Tezon and MeKayla Tezon; grandchildren, Izac, Austin and Avery Waite; Juliet, Becklyn, and Tinzlee Tezon with grandchild No. 7 (a girl) due June 26! John is also survived by his siblings, Sylvia Tezon, Rosemary Russell, Cindy Bullard and spouse Wayne, Jeni Cagle and spouse Mika, sister-in-law Anne Spry; stepmother Rosie Tezon, as well as his nieces, nephews and friends.