It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Ernest John TerKeurst, Jr. John, as he was more commonly known, passed away on December 26, 2017 at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla due to illness associated with his long-term battle with Frontotemporal Dementia. John was 74. Family and friends are invited to gather for a celebration of his life on January 20, 2018, 11:00am – 3:00pm, at their home located at 15765 Bacara Court, San Diego, CA 92131. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please make a donation to The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration. Donations can be sent to: AFTD, Radnor Station Building #2, Suite 320, 290 King of Prussia Road, Radnor, PA 19087; or donate online at www.theaftd.org . (For those who may still wish to send flowers, the family kindly asks that they be "cat friendly" – no lilies please). John was born in Mobile, Alabama on December 28, 1942, to his parents Ernest John TerKeurst and Myra Latheda (Yates) TerKeurst. John is survived by; his wife Diana (Immegart) TerKeurst, his son Jeff, daughter-in-law Lisa, granddaughter Megan, and his son Edward, son-in-law David. John is predeceased by his elder sister Lynda Moberg (husband Henry) and is survived by his two younger sisters and brother; Wanda Edwards (husband Bill), Diane Carter (husband David), and David TerKeurst (wife Shelley). John came to California at the young age of 17. As an adult, he worked for nearly 20 years in the oil fields of Huntington Beach, CA. John was skilled at working on cars and developed his talent over the years, working on cars for friends and family and helping to build racecars. He eventually realized his dream of building and driving his own stock car in which he competed at several local tracks. He developed this hobby into a business and became the owner and supervising mechanic for 15 years at his transmission shop in Long Beach, CA. John was extremely mechanically talented, which applied to construction as well as automobiles. His many projects included adding on to and remodeling the home he and Diana lived in for over 40 years before moving to San Diego. John enjoyed camping, fishing and hunting as well. He spent many summers camping with as many as four generations of his extended family in Owens Valley near the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Tinnemaha creek was a favorite vacation spot and site of many fond memories for the entire family. He often went motorcycle riding with his sons and nephew Mike or fishing with his nieces Cindy and Michele. Every other summer, John and his family would drive across the states to visit family in Mobile, AL. Of all his accomplishments, John was most proud of his family; his loving and supportive wife, Diana and their two sons, Jeff and Ed. He was often heard talking to his friends and neighbors about their accomplishments in school or new jobs or promotions. He will be missed but his family is thankful that he is now at peace.