John Schickedanz Barrett passed away August 18, 2023  at his apartment in Brentwood, MO in the arms of his wife, Lea.  He stoically demonstrated massive battles with “stage four” prostate cancer for ten years and eight months.  He was a valiant warrior.  John appeared in The New England Journal of Medicine for his participation in the Saint Louis University School of Medicine’s clinical trial for the prostate cancer drug known, at the time, as Vision PSMA.  He also participated in a clinical trial at The University of Chicago.  He was a member of the Prostate Cancer Group at Mercy Hospital in Creve Coeur on Ballas Rd.  It meets the first Thursday of every month at 6:30 PM.

He had been hospitalized for many weeks at the Saint Louis University Hospital on South Grand and spent many weeks at The Quarters of Des Peres in Missouri.  Thankfully, John was able to return to their new, Brentwood apartment on Monday, August 14th.  He had fought so hard to always choose life, even when the odds were difficult. His family, friends, medical staffs and church congregations prayed that God would be merciful and that He wouldn’t let him suffer.   John endured much suffering the last few days, and he passed away between midnight and 4:30 AM at the end of the work week.  He was 74.

While in high school, John attained the level of Eagle Scout in the local Explorer Scout Troop.  He was “a friend to all and a brother to every other scout.”  He was elected dorm president at U of I and participated as a trombonist in the Illini Marching Band.

John was a 1972 graduate of University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign School of Fine Arts with a major in Architectural Engineering.  Upon graduation, he went to work for Simon, Rettberg, Garrison and Flom, Inc in Champaign.  He stayed there for several years until he began working for Koppers’ Company.
The roots of Koppers Company, Inc. can be traced to German engineer, Heinrich Koppers, and his innovations in the coke production industry in 1912. When John joined the company in 1975 in the five southeastern states in the US, he represented the company in heavy, chemically treated timbers used in home construction and renovation.  Later in his career, he worked for McGraw Edison in the field of Lighting and taught the subject at Georgia Tech.

He joined what is, today, known as Ponds, but at the time, it was known as Armour, Cape, and Pond which is comprised of architects, engineers, planners, and constructors who provide a deep bench of experience and the capabilities to offer customized solutions that help clients manage projects from concept to completion.

Moving to the St. Louis area, He was employed by Stevens and Wilkinson, and, especially, Murray Sorkins.

John attended Eden Seminary and volunteered for ten years as a chaplain at the Pinckneyville, Illinois State Prison each Wednesday night as he led the service for sixty to eighty men who listened, participated and sang hymns while John accompanied them on the piano.  He served as an interim minister at the Concordia UCC, 7600 State Route 163, Belleville, IL.

John married Roxann Mobley, who he met when she began to attend Marissa Township High School in 1968. Just before he graduated from U of Illinois, he and Roxann were married in 1971.  John was completing his graduation requirements for the degree in architectural engineering field.

Following John’s years at Simon, Rettberg, Garrison and Flom, Roxann and John lived in Magnolia, Arkansas when he went into sales related to architecture.  In time, they moved to the St. Louis area for a while, and later, to Norcross, GA.   Throughout their marriage of eleven years,  they had two daughters:  Jody Ann and Stacy Leann.   He was so proud of the many success stories earned by his daughters and their families.  Nothing pleased him more than telling his friends of the ladies’ latest activities or the enjoyment he drew upon hearing from a grandchild!

John attended Eden Seminary and volunteered for ten years as a chaplain at the Pinckneyville, Illinois State Prison each Wednesday night as he led the service for sixty to eighty men who listened, participated and sang hymns while John accompanied them on the piano.  He served as an interim minister at the Concordia UCC, 7600 State Route 163, Belleville, IL.

Music was one of his greatest joys.  He played trombone, piano, mandolin, concertina, and guitars and he collected even more.

John loved the meetings of friends.  Every Wednesday morning, he joined the Grace Episcopal Church’s Men’s Breakfast Group at Denny’s in Kirkwood, MO.  He happily attained the level of Distinguished Toastmaster in Toastmasters International.

In 2016 John married the girl who sat behind him in the band when he was in fifth grade and she was two grades ahead of him. : Lea Rea Richey.  They hadn’t seen each other in fifty years, but when they met again, they never ceased talking.  On Valentine’s Day, they were married…five months later after meeting!

John is survived by his wife, Lea Richey Barrett; a daughter, Jody (Joshua) Giuntoli; a daughter, Stacey (David) Pilbean; five grandchildren, Bruce Giuntoli, Zoe Giuntoli, Vincent Giuntoli, Maegan Pilbean, and Adisen Pilbean.

The family wishes to give thanks to those who tended to John’s needs, such as employees of the following:  Saint Louis University School of Medicine and Hospital; The University of Chicago, Duchosois Center of Medicine; Dr. Steven Pincus and Nurse Dineen Wallace who cared for him since December 2013 at SLU; Dr. Russell Szmulewitz at UCHICAGO, The Quarters at Des Peres, the congregations and clergy of Marissa Friedens UCC and Grace Episcopal Church.