John Thomas Rouse IV

John Thomas Rouse IV, 65, of Macon, Georgia, passed away on August 17, 2026.

John was born on April 27, 1961, in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to John Thomas Rouse III and Nancy Coggin Goad. From an early age, he displayed fierce determination and a love for the outdoors. At just 16 years old, John earned the rank of Eagle Scout, an accomplishment that reflected qualities he carried throughout his life: hard work, perseverance, service, and a willingness to help others.

After graduating from high school in Warner Robins, Georgia, John started his own pizza business in Athens, Georgia. In addition to being ahead of his time selling take-and-bake pizzas, John took full advantage of the Athens party scene. He later worked for Frito-Lay before earning his insurance license and beginning a career in the insurance industry that would span more than 30 years and lead to many lifelong friendships.

John was always on point and his work was profesh. He was remarkably gifted with his hands, meticulously skilled, and could build or fix just about anything. His daughters, family members, and friends look around their homes today and point to things John built, wired, repaired, or improved. He took pride in doing things well, and he instilled that same strong work ethic in his daughters.

John loved the outdoors, and sailing became one of his great joys. During the years he lived in Chicago, he spent countless hours aboard his sailboat on Lake Michigan. In recent years, some of his most cherished times were spent camping in the North Georgia mountains with friends and family, especially his granddaughters.

Throughout his life, John was the life of the party. He had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to make people laugh. John brought energy and fun (and often beer) wherever he went and was even known for his dancing. Among the family memories sure to endure are his signature “Rubber Band Leg” dance moves, which he proudly taught to his nephew.

One of John’s most defining and enduring qualities was his generosity. When he saw someone in need he wanted to help. He gave freely of his finances, his time, his abilities, and his energy. Helping others was simply part of who he was.

That concern for others became increasingly intertwined with John’s faith. While selling life insurance over the telephone, he often heard the personal struggles of the people he spoke with. At times, instead of simply moving on to the next call, John would stop and pray with them. He would later bring some of those needs to his weekly Bible study and ask the men there to pray for people he had encountered through his work.

In his later years, that Bible study became an important part of John’s life as he grew in his faith and in his walk with the Lord. When he learned more about the need for the gospel to reach difficult places around the world, John responded as he so often did: by giving generously and encouraging others to join him.

Above all, John loved his family deeply. He regularly traveled to spend time with his daughters and grandchildren and treasured being part of their lives. His girls knew they were loved, and among the many things he passed on to them were his determination, his work ethic, and his willingness to care for others.

John is survived by his three daughters, Trista Blankenship and her husband, Paul; Brooke Coveney and her husband, Michael; and Audrey Lovdahl and her husband, Aaron; his grandchildren, Shelby and Lorelie Blankenship, and George and Mary Kate Lovdahl; and his sister, Georgia Rice.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John Thomas Rouse III and Nancy Coggin Goad, and his siblings, Elizabeth and Howard.

John was a good man, a devoted father and grandfather, a gifted craftsman, a loyal friend, a man of faith, and someone who knew how to make the people around him laugh. He leaves behind things he built with his hands, but more importantly, people whose lives were better because of his generosity, his encouragement, his prayers, and his love. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

A celebration of the life of John Rouse will be held on Saturday, August 29 at Don Carter State Park, Pavillion 1, 5000 N. Browning Bridge Road, Gainesville, GA, from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Lunch and non-alcoholic beverages will be served. Please come ready to share your favorite memories of John from all eras.

If you feel moved to contribute in John's honor, consider giving to a local mission.