John Thomas Rifenbark, Jr.
November 25, 1947 ~ January 6, 2023
John Thomas Rifenbark, Jr.
John Thomas Rifenbark, Jr., 75, of Paris, Virginia, died January 6, 2023, at Sunrise Senior Living at Hunter Mill, Oakton, Virginia, with his wife and sons at his side.
John was born November 25, 1947, in Kansas City, Missouri, to John Thomas Rifenbark, Sr., and Elsa Catherine Carlson. He received a bachelor’s degree in Spanish, with a minor in chemistry, from the University of Missouri–Kansas City in 1969; and a master’s degree in entomology from the University of Missouri–Columbia in 1979.
From 1973 through 1975, John worked as a rice volunteer in the Peace Corps/Dominican Republic. He joined the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in 1980, and served as a foreign service officer in Bolivia, North Yemen, Egypt, Bangladesh, and USAID/Washington; he retired in 2011.
In his early adulthood, he worked as a bench chemist, teamster, postal clerk, bartender, and dairy laboratory technician. In his forties, he became a windshield farmer of corn and beans, sharecropping with his dear friend in Western Missouri.
John was an adventurous man, with many interests, talents, and skills; he had a keen curiosity in the natural world and was happiest outdoors. He was introduced to international travel in high school as an American Field Service student in San Sebastian, Spain. Travel continued as a passion, as did foreign languages and cultures, music, dogs, and birds.
He was an accomplished motorcyclist, scuba diver, photographer, gardener, beer meister, beekeeper, mountaineer, and grill master. In 1979, John completed the 4,250-mile Bikecentennial route on his Austro-Daimler, from Astoria, Oregon, to Yorktown, Virginia. He continued to bicycle at all his overseas postings and in Virginia.
Following his father’s example, John dedicated much time to Boy Scout leadership in foreign posts and at home. In addition to scouting, he tutored his boys in bicycling, scuba diving, grilling, and beermaking. He enjoyed summer concerts at the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, where he volunteered for many years as an usher at the Filene Center, and winter sledding with his boys. He loved hiking with his dogs in every season.
John died of pancreatic cancer and pneumonia 4 weeks after the cancer diagnosis; he had lived with Parkinson’s disease and its complications for nearly 20 years. The final 4 years of his life were spent in nursing facilities in Virginia and Alabama.
Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Elmira Olivia (Polly) Gilbert; son William Gilbert Rifenbark, daughter-in-law Kathryn, and grandson Benjamin; son Graham Gilbert Rifenbark, his partner Allison Lombardi, and her children, Frank and Irie; brother James Hugo Rifenbark, sister-in-law Deborah, and niece Kelly Soucy and her family; sister-in-law Julie Cotney, brother-in-law Ronald Cotney, and nephews Justin Cotney and Matthew Cotney and their families; and dear cousin Marcia Spaulding Larson. He was preceded in death by his parents.
A memorial service will be held at noon on Friday, February 24, at Vienna Presbyterian Church, 124 Park Street NE, Vienna, Virginia. The family will welcome guests at 11:00 a.m. Condolences may be sent to the family at 344 Maple Avenue West #327, Vienna, VA 22180.
Contributions in John’s memory may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014; or The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 59 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, NY 14850-1999.
John Thomas Rifenbark, Jr., 75, of Paris, Virginia, died January 6, 2023, at Sunrise Senior Living at Hunter Mill, Oakton, Virginia, with his wife and sons at his side.
John was born November 25, 1947, in Kansas City, Missouri, to John Thomas Rifenbark, Sr., and Elsa Catherine Carlson. He received a bachelor’s degree in Spanish, with a minor in chemistry, from the University of Missouri–Kansas City in 1969; and a master’s degree in entomology from the University of Missouri–Columbia in 1979.
From 1973 through 1975, John worked as a rice volunteer in the Peace Corps/Dominican Republic. He joined the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in 1980, and served as a foreign service officer in Bolivia, North Yemen, Egypt, Bangladesh, and USAID/Washington; he retired in 2011.
In his early adulthood, he worked as a bench chemist, teamster, postal clerk, bartender, and dairy laboratory technician. In his forties, he became a windshield farmer of corn and beans, sharecropping with his dear friend in Western Missouri.
John was an adventurous man, with many interests, talents, and skills; he had a keen curiosity in the natural world and was happiest outdoors. He was introduced to international travel in high school as an American Field Service student in San Sebastian, Spain. Travel continued as a passion, as did foreign languages and cultures, music, dogs, and birds.
He was an accomplished motorcyclist, scuba diver, photographer, gardener, beer meister, beekeeper, mountaineer, and grill master. In 1979, John completed the 4,250-mile Bikecentennial route on his Austro-Daimler, from Astoria, Oregon, to Yorktown, Virginia. He continued to bicycle at all his overseas postings and in Virginia.
Following his father’s example, John dedicated much time to Boy Scout leadership in foreign posts and at home. In addition to scouting, he tutored his boys in bicycling, scuba diving, grilling, and beermaking. He enjoyed summer concerts at the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, where he volunteered for many years as an usher at the Filene Center, and winter sledding with his boys. He loved hiking with his dogs in every season.
John died of pancreatic cancer and pneumonia 4 weeks after the cancer diagnosis; he had lived with Parkinson’s disease and its complications for nearly 20 years. The final 4 years of his life were spent in nursing facilities in Virginia and Alabama.
Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Elmira Olivia (Polly) Gilbert; son William Gilbert Rifenbark, daughter-in-law Kathryn, and grandson Benjamin; son Graham Gilbert Rifenbark, his partner Allison Lombardi, and her children, Frank and Irie; brother James Hugo Rifenbark, sister-in-law Deborah, and niece Kelly Soucy and her family; sister-in-law Julie Cotney, brother-in-law Ronald Cotney, and nephews Justin Cotney and Matthew Cotney and their families; and dear cousin Marcia Spaulding Larson. He was preceded in death by his parents.
A memorial service will be held at noon on Friday, February 24, at Vienna Presbyterian Church, 124 Park Street NE, Vienna, Virginia. The family will welcome guests at 11:00 a.m. Condolences may be sent to the family at 344 Maple Avenue West #327, Vienna, VA 22180.
Contributions in John’s memory may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014; or The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 59 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, NY 14850-1999.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
Dear Polly, Will, and Graham. I miss John the most on Tuesday afternoons when we gather in Hunter Mill for Through the Bible, currently the Gospel According to John. His quiet voice made essential contributions to our understanding of Scripture and the value of Christian fellowship. I am grateful to have been present with you during his lingering in God’s presence until his name was called. I’d like to be present for his memorial service but it comes during the time of Through the Bible with our Reminiscence friends. I am so grateful to have enjoyed John and all of you too.
Love in Christ,
Eleanor Duffield
RIP John.
Polly and family… our condolences. We have good memories of our time and the fun we had together in Bolivia.
Polly sorry to hear about john prayers going out to you and the family fAye smith
John Rifenbark didn’t need a “bucket list”. He enjoyed an adventurous life as a matter of course.
We remember him fondly.
Polly,
I am so sorry to hear this news. I have such fond memories of working with John in Cairo and of course his photography. He was full of life in all that he did!
All my love to you and your family,
Kim
Dearest John,
The finest gift you’ve given to Polly, to Will & Graham and families, and to all of us who are fortunate to have shared your fleeting life is your example. Despite the physical challenges to your once vibrant body, you lived nobly and with grace to the end. Thank you. We will be among your family of loved ones on February 24 to celebrate the life in which you gave so freely. We ask you to look over all of us who continue our travels here on earth and ask that you help us be good stewards, like you, of our planet. John Giusti & Sherry Stanley & Becki
We are so sorry for your loss. Condolences to the Grifenbark family. May these memories comfort you
Joe & Sharyn Lombardi
My favorite memory!
Polly and John stopped by the house to visit my dad during a trip the Alex City. John was sporting a ponytail at the time. When daddy saw it he got a stunned look on his face, shrugged his shoulders, and just kinda huffed “what ever”. In honor of John I’ll be sporting my ponytail at the service!
Dear Elmira and family,
I worked with John in AID/W during 2 domestic rotations (assignments) between 2003-2012. We were on the same HR team, focused on providing good counsel to fellow Foreign Service Officers as guidance and performance counselors. John was a delightful partner – he was smart, quick, efficient, and a true team player. As you know he was an introvert by nature, so it was always a special delight to draw John into an active discussion about international development, birds, motorcycles, or a variety of other subjects. He seemed to be well versed and insightful on any/all subjects at hand. I wish I had had more time with John, as I’m sure you do as well. A fair and honest measure of any person is to know how much they will be missed. In John’s case he lived a wonderful life, and he made a positive difference in the lives of so many people, many of whom he never knew. He will be missed.
Lots of love and best wishes to you all,
Joe Dorsey – Executive Officer, retired 2019
Sorry for your loss. We are thinking of you during this difficult time. Wishing you peace and comfort.
Wishing our sincerest condolences. And may you find solace in knowing that John’s memory will never be forgotten and live forever in our hearts.
We remember John fondly and celebrate his life for his humanity, his humor and desire to share his knowledge and experience with others.