John D. Hopkins, age 50, of Oquawka, Illinois, passed away at 8:40 AM on
Saturday, November 21, 2020 at his residence. He was born November 20,
1970 in Burlington, Iowa, the son of Mike Hopkins and Reita Sebastian.
John attended school in the area and was a graduate of Union High School
with the Class of 1988. He also attended the Art Institute of Ft.
Lauderdale, Florida where he graduated with a Associates Degree in the
Music/Video Program. In his early years, John worked as a line cook at
Big Muddy’s in Burlington, Iowa, Mickey’s and The Bluebird in Iowa City,
Iowa. John’s first sound gig was at Gabe’s in Iowa City. John began his
career as a sound engineer with Weedeater, Corrosion of Conformity,
Orange Goblin, and other Tone Deaf Bands. He built an impressive career
and went on to not only continue to work with those bands, but added
many more of his personal favorites to his arsenal…Neurosis, Municipal
Waste, Overkill, Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats, Sleep, the Grammy Award
winning band High on Fire for best metal performance, and one of his all
favorite bands, The Melvins and many more. He was a member of the bands Aunt Acid, Brick, Scrid, Kita, Burnout, and the Horde. John, with his
career, traveled the United States and most of the world. He loved
music, riding his motorcycle, arguing with people for fun, helping
people, but mostly, he loved his family and his “favorite humans,”
Cameron and Conner Hopkins.
John is survived by his mother, Reita (Delbert) Furnald of Oquawka,
Illinois, his father, Mike (Toni) Hopkins of Gladstone, Illinois, three
brothers, Todd (Mindi) Hopkins of West Burlington, Iowa, Chad (Jodi)
Furnald of Danville, Iowa, and Dusty (Allison) Furnald of Danville,
Iowa, one sister, Amanda (Amos) Woodrum of Ogden, Illinois, two
step-sisters, Angie Brunswig of Ft. Madison, Iowa and Ashley West of
Gladstone, Illinois, his niece Cameron and nephew Conner Hopkins, and
his aunt and uncle, or as he called them, his second parents, Byron and
Alice Sebastian. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, aunts,
and uncles. John is preceded in death by his maternal and paternal
grandparents.
As were John’s wishes, cremation is being accorded. A Celebrations of
John’s Live will be held at a later date. A memorial is being
established for his “Favorite Human’s” Cameron and Conner Hopkins
Educational Fund. For more information, or to leave a remembrance of
John, please visit www.turnbullfuneralhomes.com.
