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It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of John Robert Yesberg, who died peacefully on Friday, 28 August 2026, aged 65, surrounded by his family and all their love.
John fought a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Strong and determined right to the end, he remained at home, supporting, loving and looking after his family until only days before his passing.
A cabinetmaker by trade, John spent his life as a provider and a craftsman. He was from a generation that believed in doing things properly, taking pride in a job well done, and passing on what you knew to anyone willing to learn. If John could teach you something along the way, he was a happy man.
As he so often said:
“I’m only here to help.”
And help was exactly what John did.
John approached life with his own wonderfully dry sense of humour. Each day, he would set the bar of expectation as low as he possibly could, so that he could step over it and surprise himself. He was a humble, uncomplicated man who asked for little, gave much, and was loved and appreciated by many.
Throughout his life, John found enormous happiness and comfort in the magic of Disney. He loved sharing that magic with everyone around him, and even throughout his illness it remained a source of happiness, escape and strength. Duffy became his travelling companion and mascot, joining John on a journey none of us wanted him to have to take, and providing a much-needed guiding light for all of us throughout the past 13 months.
Disney reminded John that imagination, storytelling and a little bit of magic are not things we ever need to grow out of.
John leaves behind his five beloved children, Jason, Russell, Bradley, Tabitha and Sabrina, their much-loved partners Chloe, Kirsty, Ash, Maddie and Connor, and his adored grandchildren William, Zoe, Chester and Lucy.
And, at the heart of it all, his beloved wife Donna, his partner in life and the woman who stood beside him through it all.
Family and friends are warmly invited to celebrate John’s life at:
GHM Kelvin Grove
270 Kelvin Grove Road
Thursday, 3 September 2026 at 10:30am
A wake will follow.
For those who are unable to join us in person, a livestream will be available. Please contact Ash on 0477 7... for details.
In the days, months and years ahead, we ask those who knew John to help keep a little of his magic alive.
If you ever find yourself at a Disney park somewhere in the world, find a place to sit for a few quiet moments. Look around at the families, the stories, the imagination and the happiness, and think of John.
If you can’t make it to the parks, we ask that you take a little time to discover the story of Duffy, and the comfort, friendship and sense of adventure he represents.
Remember that there is no age limit on finding wonder in the world, and that sometimes something as simple as a story can bring enormous comfort when we need it most.
John would have loved knowing that somewhere, someone was thinking of him while experiencing a little Disney magic — and that, through those memories, he was still helping to spread some of that magic himself.
We have lost our Disney Genie, but his magic will remain with us always.
John’s work is finally done. There are no more jobs to finish, nothing left to fix, and no one else he needs to look after.
You deserved a long retirement, with your family beside you and many more adventures still to come. But Duffy has called your name far too soon.
Rest peacefully, John.
Forever loved, forever remembered, and forever in our hearts.
See ya real soon, pal!
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