John Richard Chandler

John Richard Chandler, 92, of Amarillo, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, December 30th, 2025. Services will be at 10:00 A.M. Friday, January 2nd, 2026 at Brooks Chapel in Canyon with Rev Bryan Shane officiating. Burial will be at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery following the service.

John was born on July 28th, 1933, in Boulder, Colorado to John T. and Thelma M. (Young) Chandler. He later moved with his family to El Paso, TX where he met his high school sweetheart and future wife, Dana Sue O’Dell. They were married on March 14, 1955.

John was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, and after volunteering to go to Sea School because he thought it sounded fun, he served three years on the USS Yorktown (CV-10). In later years, he was a member and chaplain of both the US Seagoing Marines Association and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Following his service in the military and after finishing his studies in college, John entered seminary, after which he went on to serve the Lord as a Lutheran pastor for over 40 years in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Missouri, Colorado, Kansas and Texas.

In his later years, he and Dana retired to Amarillo, TX, where he especially enjoyed gardening, painting, teaching Bible classes at Life Challenge of Amarillo, traveling with Dana, and loving on his grandkids and great grandkids across the country.

He is preceded in death by his wife Dana of 68 years.

He is survived by his son, Timothy (Enid) Chandler of Pleasant Hill, MO; daughter, Mary (David) Forsberg of Amarillo, TX; nine grandchildren, John (Michelle) Chandler, Renie (Chris) Neske, Anna (Darren) Shanks, Zachary (Kelsey) Forsberg, Noah (Elizabeth) Forsberg, Bonnie Forsberg, Gabriel Forsberg, Olivia Forsberg, and Molly Forsberg; and fifteen great-grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials be made to Association of Free Lutheran Congregations, 3110 E. Medicine Lake Blvd., Plymouth, MN 55441 or to St. Paul Lutheran Church, 2600 4th Avenue, Canyon, TX 79015.