John Viets Makepeace, beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully at his home in Naugatuck, CT on January 8, 2012, at age 91. His wife of 65 years, Marion, and family members were with him.
Johnny (as he liked to be called) was born on December 3, 1920 to Walter Dunham Makepeace & Ethel Sperry Makepeace, the youngest of 5 children. He grew up in Waterbury, CT and attended McTernan's school, graduating in the class of 1933. He also attended and graduated from Taft and Andover Preparatory Schools, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University in 1943.
Johnny honorably served our country in World War II and actually landed on Normandy Beach 3 weeks after D-Day. He rarely spoke of his time in the military, preferring to share humorous moments. He considered it an honor and privilege to serve his country.
It was after World War II that he met the love of his life, the beautiful Marion Tyler Hole. They soon fell in love and married on November 9, 1946. They stayed married for 65 years. Shortly after their marriage, they settled in Naugatuck, CT, where they lived and raised a family.
Johnny worked in the insurance business for awhile, but at 43 he followed his dream and became a very successful stockbroker and investment counselor, He didn't retire until he was 89 years of age. His tremendous work ethic and his focus to always move forward despite the obstacles, inspired his family and those around him.
He served the greater Waterbury community by serving for 25 years on the Board of the Waterbury Red Cross, and was Chairman of the Board during the devastating Waterbury floods of 1955. He worked with United Way, serving on the budget committee and contributing to their yearly canvassing. He also served as a Board member to the organization that grew into the Easter Seals.
Johnny was a long time member of the Middlebury Congregational Church, where he served as church treasurer and deacon, and was an active church member for over 40 years.
Johnny had a tremendous network of friends, many of whom he knew his entire life. He was appreciated for his directness and wonderful sense of humor. However, it was his wife and children whom he cherished the most. He taught his children tennis and used metaphors from the game to give them life lessons. Such words as, "When they are down, pounce on them" and "Never surrender" were instilled in his children at an early age. Johnny suffered from asthma, but he was an avid athlete and competitor. He loved racquet sports, sailing, skiing, and golf. He won the Waterbury ping pong championship at age thirteen. He played on the Yale squash team, and he played in the Army Tennis Championships at Wimbledon after World War II and won numerous tennis tournaments in New England over the years. In fact, when asthma medicine was invented it came in a green bottle, and when his opponents saw him take it on the tennis court, they knew they were in for big trouble. He played tennis well into his 80's.
Johnny was loved by his extended family and his close friends; but he told friends and family at his surprise 70th birthday party at the Highfield Country Club, of which he was a founding member, that the best decision he ever made in his life was marrying his wife, Marion.
Johnny was preceded in death by his brothers, Roger and Leroy, his sister Millicent, and by his daughter Marcy Loomis. He is survived by his wife, Marion, his sister, Evelyn, and his four sons, Tyler, David, Richard and Seth and their families.

Memorials: Following Johnny's wishes, in lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Waterbury Red Cross, 228 Meadow Street, Suite 401, Waterbury, CT 06710, (877) 287 3327, www.ctredcross.org, and the White Memorial Conservation (Litchfield Bird Sanctuary), P.O. 368, Litchfield, CT 06759, 860 567 0857, [email protected]/* */

Location: Munson-Lovetere Woodbury

Services: Details of the memorial service and celebration of Johnny's life will be announced later.

Visitation: There are no calling hours.