John DiCandeloro

John "Jac" Joseph DiCandeloro Jr., of Claremore, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully at home on October 26, 2025, surrounded by the love of his family.

Born on February 22, 1950, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to John Joseph DiCandeloro Sr. and Jean DiCandeloro, Jac was known for his fun-loving spirit, adventurous heart, and philosophical outlook on life. He had a remarkable ability to live in the moment and never worried about what he couldn't control-a quality that drew people to him and made every day feel like an adventure.

Jac graduated from the Oklahoma Military Academy in 1968 before attending Northeastern State University, where he earned his master's degree in business. He went on to build a long and respected career as a welder and pipefitter in the oil field industry and was a proud member of the local Pipeliners Union.

Although Jac was talented at nearly everything he tried, his true passion was marine biology-and he would have spent every single day on a river if he could. That love of the water eventually guided him to change careers and work at Okiebug Bait and Tackle Shop, where he shared his knowledge, humor, and enthusiasm for fishing with countless others.

A lifelong fisherman, Jac found his greatest joy along a quiet riverbank with a line in the current. It was through that shared love of fishing that he met the love of his life, Jean Anne Coates. The two shared 14 beautiful years together and were married for 7 of them-tying the knot on Christmas Day in 2018 in Las Vegas, of course. Their relationship was filled with laughter, adventure, and deep companionship. Together, they made cherished memories and embarked on countless journeys, always finding peace and laughter in each other's company.

Jac is survived by his beloved wife, Jean Coates; his children, Zachariah Joseph DiCandeloro (Poppy), John Joseph DiCandeloro III, Nichole Coates, Jeff Coates (Sharissa), and Morgan Coates; his grandchildren, Emma Coates (fiancé Austyn Wibben), Peyton Phillips, Aiden Phillips, Landon Jones, Payton Coates, Greyson Jones, Millie Rosenthaler, Charlotte Rosenthaler, Lucy Rosenthaler, Remington Coates, and Ellisyn Coates; and his great-grandson, Waylon Wibben. He is also survived by his sister, Jeannie Goins; niece, Cindy Clifton; and nephew, Steven Cox.

He is preceded in death by his parents, John Joseph DiCandeloro Sr. and Jean DiCandeloro, and his brother, Richard DiCandeloro.

Jac's legacy lives on in the laughter of his family, the stories shared on riverbanks, and the quiet wisdom he passed on to all who knew him. He will be deeply missed, but his spirit will continue to ripple through the waters he loved so much.

Cremation Arrangements have been entrusted to Simplicity Burial & Oklahoma Cremation Centers. Friends and family may leave condolences and kind words of comfort at https://www.simplicityburialcremation.com