Marries his high school sweetheart – Debbie October 9, 1971
Dad to Abbie, Jonathan and Rachel. Pop Pop to Meghan, Hannah, Aidan, Doran, and Ava.
John grew up in Licking Creek, Pennsylvania. He attended Mifflin Elementary School and was a graduate of Juniata High School where he was an outstanding wrestler and student. He was a member of Boy Scout Troop 124 of St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church; Licking Creek where he earned the rank of Eagle Scout on February 2, 1969. He enjoyed being a camp counselor at the seven mountain Boy Scout Camp for several years.
He Enlisted in the Air Force March 1971 and served for Seven Years. He served most of his time in the weather squadron of the Air Force at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware and for the Army at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
While at Dover Air Base he served as Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts Troop on the base. He enjoyed taking his base troop to camp in Pennsylvania with his Licking Creek troop 124 and inviting the Licking Creek troop to the Air Force Base for camping.
He enjoyed all kinds of fishing from freshwater to deep sea fishing. He started at a very early age with his grandfather Heister fishing at Zook’s Dam and all over Juniata County in PA, Canada and the Indian River in Delaware. He enjoyed being First-Mate for his good friend Jack. He was an avid golfer at the “ole” Garrison Lake Golf Course, Smyma, DE for many Years.