John Ulrich

John Anthony Ulrich, 80 of May's Lick, Kentucky passed away Saturday, May 28, 2022, at The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio after an illness of several weeks.

In addition to his parents, Joseph Edgar Ulrich, and Nell Appelman Ulrich, he was preceded in death by his first wife Gloria Shantz Ulrich. Two brothers, Marion Ulrich and Donald Ulrich. Two sisters, Ginger Litzinger and Kitty Branam.

He was born May 3, 1942, to the late Joseph Edgar Ulrich and Nell Appelman Ulrich, at the Ulrich Homeplace on Old Dover Road, outside of Augusta, Kentucky. He spent many happy years there surrounded by loving family and friends. During his young adulthood, he went through an accident that would change the course of his life forever. After experiencing severe burns from a gas fire, and spending several weeks hospitalized, John took a vacation to the Bahamas where he would meet Gloria Shantz, a young woman from Ontario, Canada, who would soon become his wife. They began their married life together on April 26, 1969, in Ontario, Canada where they would spend the next three years together. While there, they added to their family, welcoming their first son, Joseph, into the world on August 19, 1972. They eventually relocated to Kentucky, where they added their second son, Michael, to the family on November 17, 1980. In 1984, to help with a lung condition Gloria had developed, John relocated his family to Hernando County, Florida, where they would live, work and grow as a family for the next 10 years. Shortly after John’s wife, Gloria passed on August 1, 1993, John and family relocated back to Kentucky, where John would spend the remainder of his years. John got another chance at love and happiness when he met Lori Bevins, at May’s Lick Baptist Church, and the two were married a short time later on December 13, 2003. They made a new life together and made many wonderful memories in the years that followed. Through the years, the family has grown and thrived, as son, Joseph, and wife Shannon, have welcomed grandchildren, Beth, John, Ben, Gloria, and Emma Grace, and son, Michael, and wife Brook, have welcomed, Jake, Luke, David, and Ellie into the family. John’s happiest moments and memories were when all of his children and grandchildren could gather together.

John has been a man of many talents and interests over the years. John was a proud veteran of the U S Army. He has been involved in many different forms of animal husbandry over the years, including working as a breeder of both Arabian and Thoroughbred Horses, as well as working in the breeding of Black Angus cattle, Katahdin hair sheep, dairy goats, and English Shepherds. Most recently, he has done pioneering work in restoring the bloodlines of St. Bernards to their more classic form, breeding for dry mouth, and short hair. You can learn more about John’s work in this area at his website, hallelujahstbernards.com, through which he has sold St. Bernards to buyers all across the country. John was also an award-winning professional photographer for many years, a love for which he has passed down to his children and his grandchildren. In addition, John attended and completed nursing school earning his LPN degree. He also has had a lifelong love of carpentry and metalwork, which he utilized in personally building and overseeing the construction of three homes, and many other carpentry and woodworking projects over the years. As a father and grandfather, John was always all too happy to help his family with whatever projects they were involved in. John also worked for many years as a manufacturer of laminated hardwood airboat propellers, first as shop manager, at Aerostick Propellers, in Clearwater, Florida, and then in his own business, Vortex Propellers, which he ran in Dover, Kentucky. John, during that time worked to make many improvements and innovations to hardwood airboat propellers, which is also a testament to his love of science, technology, and invention over the years. John was also an inventor over the course of his life, always looking for ways to make improvements to various practical technologies. Another interest of John’s over many years has been his love of ancient history, especially that which proves the historicity of the Bible and of its record of a young earth and a recent creation. All of these interests came together in the form of his first novel. Since his teen years, John had had an interest in writing fiction. This dream was finally realized in the writing and self-publication of his first novel, Ancient Wisdom, Ancient Folly. Shortly before the time of his passing, John, along with wife Lori, had submitted his second novel, Through the Fire, for publication. John was also a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a Charter Member of Ripplers, the fiction clinic of award winning author, DiAnn Mills. You can find out more about his work as a novelist at ulrichbooks.com.

John would want everyone to know though, that the most important part of his life was his relationship with Jesus Christ, who He came to know personally as Savior and Lord in 1979. Up to that point, he thought that he had to do enough good things to please God. But at last, John came to understand the truth of the Gospel: We are not saved through what we do, but only through what Jesus Christ has done for us! It is only by His grace and through faith that we are saved! Coming to know the love of Jesus changed everything for John. He was never the same again... He had been forgiven and set free! He now had a passion to tell everyone he knew, family and friends, about the new life he had found in Jesus Christ! It was a passion that never left him, but only grew stronger with the passing of the years. As he grew in his relationship with Jesus Christ, he became an avid reader of the Bible, and a Sunday School teacher in many different churches for many years right up to the present at Aberdeen Baptist Church in Ohio. He also served many times as a videographer for church worship services, and designed and operated multiple church websites over the years. He also supported many different churches and Christian ministries. In worship services, he could always be counted on to sing songs to his Lord with his voice and his arms lifted high! And when the preaching began, you could be certain you would hear many a hearty “amen!” “yup!” and, “that’s right!” He had a burning passion for the truth of God’s Word, but he was also tender-hearted. He loved being with God’s people worshiping the Jesus he loved! But it wasn’t just church, Jesus changed everything for John... His family, his interests, and his work all became increasingly shaped and changed by his growing desire to know Jesus and to make him known. And that is his greatest legacy... the one that will last forever. But if you were to brag on him, he would have none of it. Even on the last day of his life, he still said that any good in him was only because of Jesus, and that’s what he would want everyone, family and friends to remember most about him.

Survivors include his wife Lori Bevins Ulrich, two sons, Joseph Edgar (Shannon) Ulrich of May's Lick, Kentucky and Michael Anthony (Brook) Ulrich of Tollesboro, Kentucky. One sister, Betty Snapp of Augusta, Kentucky. His Mother-in-law, Clarine Bevins of May's Lick and nine grandchildren, Beth, John, Ben, Gloria, Emma Grace, Jake, Luke, David and Ellie. Also, many other relatives, friends and his church family.

Funeral services will be conducted 1:00 pm Thursday, June 2, 2022, at the Aberdeen Baptist Church, 733 U.S. Highway 52, Aberdeen, Ohio 45101 with Rev. David Cheek officiating.

Burial with full military honors will follow in the Elizaville Cemetery. There will be a meal following the graveside service at Aberdeen Baptist Church. Visitation at the Aberdeen Baptist Church is after 5:00 pm Wednesday.

Family and friends will serve as pall bearers. Pallbearers include: Joe Ulrich, Michael Ulrich, John Ulrich, Ben Ulrich, Jake Gifford-Ulrich, Bob Snapp, Billy Frederick, and Timothy Fisher. Honorary Pallbearers include: Luke Ulrich, David Ulrich, Jerry Chapin, Mark Branam, Mike Branam, Danny Day, Darrell Day, Jeff Litzinger, Jason Snapp, Josh Snapp, Lawton Ulrich, Darrell Adamson, Bobby Bussell, Terry Campbell, Wendell Hardin, Joe Heller, Bob Iery, Gary Morgan, and Howard Stewart.

Contributions in memory of John Anthony Ulrich are suggested to the Aberdeen Baptist Church, P.O. Box 529, Aberdeen, Ohio or to Samaritan's Purse at  https://www.samaritanspurse.org/donation-items/where-most-needed

The Price Brothers Funeral Home in Elizaville, Kentucky is caring for the arrangements for Mr. John Anthony Ulrich.