John M. Nordstrom, 69, formerly of Callicoon and more recently of Monticello passed away April 28, 2023 after a brief illness. John was born in northwest Iowa in Everly and spent his youth in Spencer, Iowa where he received his diploma and worked alongside his father, John, developing a campground and marina. After a brief relocation in his 20’s to Los Angeles, he moved back to NYC where he spent many years early in his career as a contractor. John was a skilled craftsman, a fine cabinet maker and owned a successful construction business. His weekends were spent relaxing in his home in Parksville.

During his retirement years, in his beloved Callicoon, he spent his time showcasing his many talents building structures for his neighbors and friends including treehouses, garages and more specifically, beautiful bathrooms. John had many interests including canoeing on the Delaware river, cooking, growing large collections of beautiful plantings and in later years he enjoyed several fish aquariums. He also spent several years volunteering at Radio Catskills WJFF radio station for the farm and country segments. He was an avid listener of public radio and television and a big fan of documentaries and anything educational. Even at the end of his life John was still keenly interested in learning about anything new. It was one of the reasons he was such a pleasure to converse with. He could speak eloquently on any topic and was a wonderful storyteller. A true wordsmith, he had a distinctive way of speaking that made him a fascinating conversationalist. John was known for his generosity and his genuine interest in everyone he encountered. He was able to sympathize with others and learn about what makes them tick in a way that is rare to find. He carried himself with integrity and selflessness, always ready to help out others in any way he could. He thoroughly appreciated the little things in life and gave his all in everything he did. Anyone who knew John understood his enjoyment of simply sharing a glass of bourbon with a friend while watching hundreds of fireflies putting on their show on a summer’s night. This is what made him truly happy.

John was a colorful character who lived his life passionately and made his presence known to all around him in the best way. His larger than life personality was truly a one of a kind. Underneath all of the vibrant qualities that made him unique, John was a kind hearted soul and true gentleman. His big booming voice and infectious laugh will be remembered and missed by all. John leaves behind a brother Jeff and his husband Jack, from Indianola, Iowa, a sister, Lynda from Minneapolis, MN, along with his Massachusetts family, Denise, her son Matthew and his wife Arti, her daughter Meghan and granddaughter Keira, and daughter Cathryn from Lake Tahoe, CA.