John Ernest Kading, 96, of Clinton Corners and Millbrook, NY, died peacefully on Saturday, March 1st, 2025 surrounded by his family that loved him.  John was born in Sharon Connecticut to Ernest and Charlotte Kading.  John was predeceased by his wife of 61 years Marilyn (Mull) Kading on November 18, 2016.  John married Marilyn on March 26, 1955. Together John and Marilyn owned and operated the Corner News Store in Millbrook for over 50 years. There at the Corner News Store his love for the Village of Millbrook and friends met along the way grew every day for those 50 years. In 1965, John and Marilyn moved to Mabbettsville to the farm and homestead of his dreams. John and Marilyn raised their four children on the farm in Mabbettsville. John and Marilyn sold the Corner News Store in 1999, and retired to the farm in Mabbettsville where he enjoyed his sheep. In 2006, they sold the farm and moved to a smaller house in Clinton Corners, but his heart, his love, and his life always stayed in Millbrook. In 1998, they lost their youngest daughter Debbie to cancer.  And in 2021, John lost his sister Helen (Kading) Doland.
John is survived by his children, Diane (and Gerry) Schoessow, John (and Jennifer) Kading, and Donald (and fiancé Michelle) Kading, his grandchildren, Jessica (and Peter) Cedeno, David (and fiancé Tabitha) Brownell, Ashley Schoessow, Kyle Schoessow, Kaylee Kading, Elizabeth (and Dominic) Bucci, John Kading III, Christina Kading, Michael Kading, and Stephen Kading, and his great grandchildren, Joshua, Jasmyn, Mekhalyn, Riley, Zayden, Nathan, Eden, Elliana, Julius and Emerson. He is also survived by his brother Henry Kading, and nieces and nephews. Throughout his life he was deeply involved in many aspects of the community. In addition to owning and operating the Corner News Store in Millbrook for over fifty years, for more than forty years John proudly showed his sheep at the Dutchess County Fair and at the fairs throughout the East Coast.  He was the chairman of the Dutchess County wool pool for sheep farmers in the area.  He was the leader of the Southern Shepherds 4H club for many years.  He was a member of the Millbrook Historical Society, the Lions Club, the Millbrook Rotary, the Millbrook Business Association, the VFW, Commander of the American Legion in Millbrook, and a Free Mason.  He was a lifetime member of the Millbrook Fire Department and was one of the first starting the Millbrook Ambulance Squad and he was the co-founder of the Millbrook festival of holiday lights on Franklin Avenue. John will be dearly missed by all.
Calling hours will be at Allen Funeral Home, 3270 Franklin Ave., Millbrook on Thursday, March 6th, from 4 to 8 pm.  A memorial service will be held at the Lyall Memorial Federated Church, 30 Maple Avenue in Millbrook on Friday, March 7th, at 11 am. Memorial donations can be made to Millbrook Community Partnership Inc., P.O. Box 1087, Millbrook, NY 12545 for the benefit of Bennett Park or to the Millbrook Historical Society.