Obituary
John Louis Marsh, of Ocala, Florida, passed away at Legacy House Hospice on May 5, 2018, surrounded by loving family.
John was born August 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, the son of Charles Rex Marsh and Donna Lillian Renshaw. John was named after his two grandfathers, one named John D. Marsh and the other, Louis T. Renshaw. John came home from the hospital to three older sisters, Janet, Joan, and Mary. His daddy was so happy to finally have a son. Six years later he welcomed another little sister, Donna Kathleen.
John attended schools in Sierra Madre, Mt. Baldy, and Upland High School, all in southern California. When the family moved to northern California he then finished high school in Petaluma. He attended Santa Rosa Junior College and Brigham Young University where he got his degrees in Psychology and Instructional Media.
After high school John joined the United States Army and served 3 years in Berlin, Germany. He worked in the Army as a Fixed Station Receiver Representative. John had many interesting experiences while in Germany. He was there from 1963 to 1966. While in the Army he honed his broadcasting and audio skills. After his 3 years in Germany, he came home and prepared for an LDS mission. He soon got his call from President David O. McKay calling him to the Scotland Mission for 2 years.
In 1973 John married Ann Cecile Twitchell and then had to wait several years before they finally had their four beautiful children, Robert Charles, Rebecca Ann, Melissa Joan, and Richard John. John loved his family very much and was very proud of them. John and Ann were later divorced.
John’s interests included motorcycles, music, houseboating on Lake Powell, taking his children waterskiing, electronics, gadgets and gizmos, live music, good jokes, cooking for his family, teaching in church, especially the youth, and he loved camping out in nice hotels. He loved driving and going on trips. He loved attending the temple and cooking breakfast at home. He loved going on cruises.
John married Brenda Voyles in 2002. Brenda’s daughter, Susie, joined the family too.
John was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He especially loved teaching the youth. He has served as Sunday School superintendent, Elder’s Quorum president, Executive Secretary, High Priest Group leader, Deacons Quorum Advisor, Priest’s Quorum Advisor, Ward Mission leader, Young Men’s counselor and president, served on the genealogy committee, and as a counselor in a bishopric. He loved serving with his wife Brenda, in the Jordan River Temple Baptistry for 8 and ½ years. He also served as a temple veil worker in the Florida, Orlando Temple.
One of John’s first jobs was being a projectionist in a theater in Petaluma, California. This was probably the beginning of his love for all things to do with movies and productions. He worked as a night instructional Media Supervisor at Santa Rosa Junior College. He was a senior technician in classroom television at BYU. He worked as a television stage manager and cameraman for KSL-TV in Salt Lake City. After that he worked as a television stage manager in Hollywood and worked on such shows as The Toni Tennille Show, Guinness Game, Dinah Shore Show, Make Me Laugh, Solid Gold, The Donny and Marie Show, Sha Na Na, The Dating Game, Love Experts, Krofft Superstar Variety Hour, The Newlywed Game, Peoples Command Performance, Hollywood Connection, KTLA Christmas Parade, KTLA Rose Parade Coverage, UCLA Basketball, and various commercials. He worked as a freelance stage manager in many varied assignments including, The Barbara Mandrell Show, Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon, Easter Seals Telethon, all Oral Roberts ½ hour Sunday shows, and 1 hour specials, Victor Awards, and the Mrs. America Pageant.
John was part of the original production team for the Children’s Miracle Network Telethon at Disneyland and Disney World for 17 years. He enjoyed working with the Osmonds during these years. He stage managed the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Programs for several years and other special productions such as President Hinckley’s 90th and 95th birthday celebrations. In 2005 he was on the Day of Celebration committee for the 200th anniversary of the Prophet Joseph Smith’s birthday. It included 45,000 youth, performing music, dances, and pageants, at Rice Eccles Stadium at the University of Utah. That same year John also served on the organizing committee for First Night for Youth, New Year’s Eve Celebration at the LDS Conference Center. John made many, many friends over the years and was just as comfortable talking to the stars he worked with, as he was his own family.
John was the creator of a nonprofit TV station called the Starfish Network. Its program inspired people to take interest in their fellow men. It broadcasted charities 24/7.
Over the past 12 years John and Brenda worked together at Starfish and in a variety of jobs that they enjoyed doing together.
John always said that his goal in life was to live his life so he could make it to the Celestial Kingdom and be with his sweet mother.
John was a great mentor and friend and he endured well until the end.
John is survived by his wife Brenda, his children Robert (Becky), Rebecca Bagley (Justin), Melissa, Richard (Morgan), and step-daughter Susan Turner. He is also survived by 2 of his 4 sisters, Mary Tibbets (Jon), and Kathy Calkins (Mark), and his grandchildren Collin and Avery Turner, and Ellie and Lucy Bagley.
There will be 2 memorial services held to honor John; one in Florida and one in Utah.
The FLORIDA memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 11:00a at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1831 SE 18th Ave, Ocala FL.
The UTAH memorial service will be held on Monday, May 28, 2018 at 1:00p at the Taylorsville LDS Institute Chapel at Salt Lake Community College at 4554 S 2025 West, Salt Lake City, UT.
Interment, National Cemetery in Jacksonville, Florida. Arrangements by Baldwin Brothers Funerals & Cremations 11250 SW 93rd Ct. Rd. Ocala, FL 352-236-7813.
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