John H. Petty

September 18, 1951 - October 20, 2023

John H. Petty

We sorrowfully announce the passing of John Petty on October 20, 2023 due to complications from cancer. He was our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and uncle and will be sorely missed.  Memorial services will be held for him at Calvary Cemetery and Funeral Center, with a reception to follow at William B Pond Park. 

When: Friday, November 3, 2023

  • 9:30 AM Viewing
  • 10:15 AM Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy
  • 11:00 AM Mass
  • 12:00 PM Internment 
  • 2:00 PM Reception at William B Pond Park

Where: All services will be held at Calvary Cemetery and Funeral Center, 7101 Verner Ave. Citrus Heights, CA. A reception and catered lunch for friends and family will follow at the Cottonwood Picnic Area, William B Pond Park, 5700 Arden Way, Carmichael, CA (note there is a $6/vehicle entrance fee to William B Pond Park). Directions from the funeral services are here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/2PbCzXP3QrkrZFJV6. If you will be attending the reception please register here: https://tinyurl.com/mt2t4yjf.

Remembrance: In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that remembrances be made to one of these fine charities: 

Biography: John was born in 1951 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He graduated from the University of New Mexico in 1974 with a degree in electrical engineering. After graduating, he moved to Denver to work for a few years with the Bureau of Reclamation in hydroelectric power generation (leading his young son to loudly and proudly state that his father was a “dam engineer”). He soon embarked on a decades-long career as a software engineer in the tech industry, specializing in low-level software and hardware control systems. That phone in your pocket probably has components he worked on. 

John’s hobbies included wood-working, geology, and photography. He had a great appreciation for the outdoors, and particularly enjoyed camping and bicycling. He also had a deep and abiding love of trains and train rides. A photogenic train trip through the mountains was probably the closest thing John got to paradise in this world. 

John believed in service and was always putting up his hand when needed. He served as a Webelos Scout leader for three years, and was heavily involved in church service. He taught seventh and eighth grade catechism and taught the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults to prospective new Catholics. He worked for several years helping to resettle refugees through Lutheran Refugee Services. John was invited to join the Knights of Columbus in 2010, and was awarded 4th Degree Knighthood in 2022. 

John is survived by his beloved wife Pam of 52 years, his son Aaron (Vanessa) and daughter Sara (Duncan), and three grandchildren: Kiamni, Addison, and Jasper.