He was adopted by Velma and Eldon Davenport shortly after and grew up in Centralia, Illinois, before moving to Billings, Montana in 1953. John graduated from Billings Sr. High in 1965 where he excelled in sports, especially track and field, where he still holds a state record. After studying for a year at West Point, he graduated from Montana State University with a degree in Industrial and Management Engineering and the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in the Army.

On August 22, 1969, John and Marla Connor began a married life together that lasted 55 years. John was recruited out of college by 3M where he began a 33-year career working in Mfg Plant Engineering, Line Marketing, Marketing Communications, Domestic and Intl Order Entry Systems Development in Brookings, SD and St. Paul, MN. Along the way he earned MBA and MBC degrees from St. Thomas University. He retired as a Cpt in the US Army Reserve Artillery.

Marla and John raised two daughters, Kriste Marie and Carrie Lynn and settled for over 40 years in their home surrounded by woods in Pine Springs. John was a history buff, especially focusing on World War II. He played miniature war games with the same group for many years and dabbled in building and flying model planes. In the summer and winter he could be found mowing for blowing snow on his John Deer tractor.

John is survived by his wife Marla, daughter Kriste Henson, son-in-law Neil Henson, granddaughters Sierra Oehlke, Delaney Quinn and Keira Henson, grandson Aidan Henson, exchange daughter Simone Baur in Switzerland, sister-in-law Donna and husband Rick Kellogg, niece Tonya and husband James Malicoat, niece Heather and husband Scott Hill, nephew Jim and wife Jamie Kellogg and daughters Haylee and Brooke, and nephew Joe and wife Marcia Kellogg and children Connor and Corinne.

He is preceded in death by his parents Velm and Eldon Davenport, daughter Carri Lynn Quinn, and sister Kay and husband Harold Hyson.

John and Marla are long time members of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Oakdale, MN. A celebration of life will be held on Friday, November 22, 2024 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Oakdale, MN at 2:00 PM with visitation beginning at 1:00 PM.

Johns family wants to thank the doctors, nurses and support staff at St. John's Hospital in Maplewood for their care and support during the last weeks of his life. John will be missed by his family, including pets Rudy and Punkin. and many friends.