John Leslie Tucker

John Leslie Tucker (Jack), born April 14th, 1942, and passed away November 21st, 2021 after a brief battle with previously undiagnosed lung cancer in Moreno Valley, California. Raised in Detroit, Michigan, Jack was the only brother to 5 sisters (Sandy Materna, Linda Tucker-burtraw, Paula Keffalo, Chris Koch and Beth Croghan). Rumor has it he was spoiled rotten by his sisters and got away with just about anything. Being raised in a house full of strong women he always taught his girls that we were every bit as capable as the boys, while at the same time waiting up for us when we started to date. My mom always said he was the new generation of men, "men who change diapers". He wasn't known to be the best of students, which he was always the first to admit and his parents decided to send him to "Wilbur Wright" trade school. Where it's been said he was very popular with the locals for fixing everyone's bikes. This was no surprise to us kids, as he was famous in our house for his ability to fix anything with a roll of duck tape and his favorite multi-tool that was always ready in his pocket. Jack enlisted in the Navy in 1960 as a Seaman Recruit and was honorably discharged as a Machinist Mate 3rd Class, in September 1966. He served on the U.S.S. Saint Paul as an engine operator, traveling to Hawaii and Japan. He was recommended for reenlistment, but with 2 small children and a third on the way, he decided it was time to move on. Jack married Carole Lynn Chalupnik (deceased 2017) on June 1st, 1963 and again on his birthday April 14th, 1985, and for a third time on December 22nd 1987, (my parents sure enjoyed a good wedding, especially their own) and was the father of 6 children (Judy Collora, John Tucker, Jennifer Greene, Jerry Tucker, Jeffrey Tucker and Matthew Tucker) and 11 grandchildren (Stephanie, Zack and Emily Tucker, Jack, Carolyn and Anne Collora, Zachary Greene, Jeff, Jerry Jr. and Jill Tucker, and Leah Hernandez). After the Navy he went back to school to train in Sheet metal, where he worked for many years until in 1974, a broken ladder caused him to fall 40 feet onto concrete. Breaking his back, crushing both his heals and confining him to a wheelchair for 2 years. Never to be kept down for long, he retrained himself to fix boat motors and worked for John's Custom Marine during that time and eventually relearned to walk again. We were so ecstatic the Christmas my dad got out of his wheelchair and did the dorkiest dance ever! It was also a time full of happy memories of going to Catalina Island testing out the boats and just having him around to spend time with us. He was a lifetime learner and continued to re-educate himself once again training to fix slot machines at the Indian Casino's in Palm Springs before he retired. My dad was a hobbyist, he collected model trains, built remote control sailing ships, he liked the new drones, 3D printers and generally loved to build and work with his hands. We were very lucky as kids to have a dad that built us go carts and holiday ghosts, rabbit hutches, giant peace signs and so much more. He enjoyed all kinds of music including Pink Floyd, Deep Purple and Elton John, he liked to blast the "Phantom of the Opera" soundtrack. The last couple years he spent a lot of time at Fairmount Park sailing his custom built remote control boats with his grandkids and fellow enthusiasts. Jack loved coffee; he drank it all day, every day. I sure hope heaven has great coffee, because if it doesn't he "might go a wandering and you know what that will mean". In our minds and in our hearts, he was the coolest of the "cool dads". He was a loving husband, brother and father, a good friend to many and a respected man in the lives of all he knew. He will be missed by all who had the greatest of opportunities to know and love him. Dad, have a great voyage on your journey to the other side. We all know that you'll be there waiting for us with a load of fun things to do and great places for us to see and explore! With Love! Service Corona Sunnyslope Cemetery 1125 Rimpau Ave. Corona, CA 92879 Tuesday 12/14, 10:00 am Services are Graveside