John Eberhard of Sparta, N.J., passed away on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021. He was 79.
He was born on Aug. 18, 1941, and was raised in Garfield. N.J., spending his summer months at the family’s summer home in Highland Lakes (Vernon), N.J.
John graduated from Pope Pius High School in Passaic, N.J. He earned a BS Degree in Chemistry from St. Bonaventure University in 1963. After college John joined the U.S. Army Reserve, where he served for 10 years. While working as a chemist for the Jersey City Sewerage Authority, he earned his MBA in marketing from Fairleigh Dickenson University.
He met and married the love of his life, Barbara Lauter (Eberhard), at the Jersey Shore in July of 1969. They were engaged by August and married on Nov. 1 of that same year. They lived happily for the next 51 years, settling in Sparta, where they raised their five sons. In 1973 John and Barbara purchased the Culligan business in Sparta and spent the next 47 years of their lives growing that business.
John and Barbara had five sons Kurt, Paul, Brian, Bob, and Peter. John was very active in Sparta Little League, where he coached many aspiring baseball players over the course of 15 years. He is remembered by many as the coach of The Spartans Little League Baseball Team.
John is survived by his wife, Barbara; sons, Kurt Eberhard and his wife, Dawn, of Fanwood, N.J., Paul Eberhard and his wife, Christine, of Fair Haven, N.J., Brian Eberhard and his wife, Laura, of Florham Park, N.J., Bob Eberhard and his wife, Brittany, of Denville, N.J., Peter Eberhard and his wife, Clare, of Montclair, N.J.; and his wonderful grandchildren, Luke, Andrew, Evan, Sarah, Adeline, John Paul, and Billy.
Visitation was held at Goble Funeral Home in Sparta on Feb. 11. Funeral services were held Feb. 12 at Our Lady of the Valley Church, Orange, N.J.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Sparta Little League, P.O. Box 661, Sparta, NJ 07871.