Sept. 26, 1948 - Aug. 27, 2023
John VanKoolbergen, 74, of Lakeland, Florida, passed away on Sunday, August 27, 2023, in a Hospice Facility in Lakeland, Florida, after a brief illness. John was the son of the late Kay and John VanKoolbergen. He was born September 26, 1948, in Teaneck, New Jersey, but had lived in Florida for the past 60 years. He graduated from Bradford County High School in Starke, FL and the Radiology and Nuclear Medicine Schools at Tampa General Hospital. He was the Chief Nuclear Medicine Technician at Lakeland Regional Health System for over forty years. John was proud to serve his country as a Corpsman in the U.S. Navy.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Judy Azbell, his sister Kathie (Danny) Greene of Gray, GA, his niece and nephew, Anna Greene (Kevin) Watkins, of Covington, GA, and Joe Greene of Duluth, GA.
John was the proud great uncle of JD, Reynolds, and Asher Greene and Wyatt Watkins. John and Judy, through the Big Brothers-Big Sisters Organization, were paired with Jeremy Bailey, who continued to be an important part of John’s life until his passing. He is also survived by Charlotte, the last of a long line of rescue dogs who were given a safe and loving home.
John will be remembered as a generous and faithful friend to many.
He was appreciated for his sense of humor and especially his corny jokes.
A memorial service for John will be held later.
