John Lobotsky

John George Lobotsky Jr.  98 of Rhinebeck, NY passed away peacefully at home on the morning of June 19, 2024, with family by his side.

John was born on January 3, 1926, in Rhinebeck to the late John Lobotsky Sr. and Mary (Stetz) Lobotsky. He married Joan (Euler) in Rhinebeck on July 5, 1953. John and Joan were both in the 1943 graduating class of Rhinebeck High School. Joan pre-deceased John on May 22, 2018.

After graduating from high school, John continued working on the family vegetable farm, Wonderland Farm. He grew and delivered, mostly sweet corn, and other vegetables to all the Grand Unions in Dutchess County.

During his life, John worked many jobs and enjoyed even many more hobbies. He was passionate about agriculture, conservation preservation, farming, our local wetlands, stock market trading and fishing (John could have fished every single day of his 98 years and would never have gotten bored!) He also enjoyed water dowsing, bowling, downhill skiing, hunting, dancing with Joan and softball. He was a pitcher of the Rhinebeck Merchants softball team, where he pitched a perfect game, landing him in the Kingston Softball Hall of Fame in 1969.

He always was interested in creating new avenues of income for his family and started a sawmill with the area’s first woodchipper. He had many jobs in the off season from farming.

John was especially proud of a job in an industrial design pattern shop in Poughkeepsie where he executed engineers’ designs to make metal molds and test new patents. John was involved in the mold making for the typewriter typeball (also known as an “element” or “golf ball” back then) for IBM, the spherical metal object of letters, numbers, and symbols that would rotate and pivot to strike the paper to type.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation was another job that John took pride in, working for several years in the wildlife control division to prevent rabies from spreading from Connecticut into New York State. That job led him to be known around the area as an excellent trapper, teaching and writing articles about trapping.

In 1969, John bought Saltsman’s Florist on Route 308 in Rhinebeck, and turned it into Wonderland Florist, Nursery and Farm Market, which has and continues to employ many townspeople. John expanded the nursery into a landscaping business and had nine greenhouses to propagate and grow garden vegetables and bedding plants. His love for those greenhouses never waned and he could regularly be found working in them even up until the age of 97.

John, his son Steven, and employees planted hundreds of trees in Rhinebeck, including every tree that lined East Market Street in the center of the village of Rhinebeck.

John was a life member and former President of the Northern Dutchess Rod & Gun Club in Rhinebeck. He was a board member and active in the Dutchess County Soil and Water Conservation District, The Winnakee Land Trust, Rhinebeck Cemetery Board, and Rhinebeck Zoning.

John's latest project, and one very dear to his heart, was working with The American Chestnut Foundation in conjunction with Cornell University to help populate and bring back the glorious chestnut tree, which had rapidly declined due to a fungus. He was growing chestnut saplings and teaching farmers in each county of New York state how to properly grow and plant new chestnut trees that could withstand fungi.

These are just samples of what he accomplished in his 98 years. John loved Rhinebeck and the people in the community. He will be missed dearly by all who were fortunate to know him.

John is survived by his four children: JoAnne Lobotsky (Stephen Brady) of Port Ewen, NY, Steven Lobotsky (Patricia) of Rhinebeck, NY, Susan Calafrancesco (David) of Canyon Lake, TX, and Lynn Lobotsky (Pete Heitmann) of Rhinebeck, NY; his six grandchildren Adam Calafrancesco, Nicolas Lobotsky (Erica Iacono), Nicole Calafrancesco, Gregory Lobotsky (Julie), Christopher Shelton (Andrea), and Blake Shelton (Tara); and his five great-grandchildren, Jakson and Lennox (Nicolas), Violet (Blake), and Gianna and Stevie (Gregory).

John is also survived by his older sister, Julia Lobotsky, age 100.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Nettie Brehm and brother, Walter Lobotsky. He was also predeceased by lifelong employee and friend, Fred Putnam.

Calling hours will be Thursday June 27th from 4-6 pm at Dapson Chestney Funeral Home in Rhinebeck, NY.  

A Celebration of Life will be taking place at the Northern Dutchess Rod & Gun Club in Rhinebeck, 140 Enterprise Road, on Sunday June 30, 2024, from 2-5 pm. All are welcome to attend and share their stories about a man who dedicated his time, energy, and heart to the town he loved so deeply.

In lieu of flowers, for those who wish to contribute in John Lobotsky's memory, please donate to The American Chestnut Foundation and/or Hospice.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of John Lobotsky, please visit our Tree Store.