| Notes |
- October 11, 2008
Roche, John G.
John G. Roche, DeForest/ Freedom, age 71, passed away on Wednesday, October 8, 2008, at his home. He was born on the home farm in Freedom, Wisconsin, to Walter P. Roche and Mary A. (Garvey) Roche on June 26, 1937. John graduated from Freedom High School in 1955. He married Elizabeth F. Van Handel on February 13, 1958, at St. John the Baptist Church in Seymour, WI.
John joined the Marine Corps in 1955 and was stationed at Paris Island, S.C., Camp LeJune, N.C., and later the Marine Corps Reserve in Green Bay, WI. He then joined the Air Force in 1959 and was stationed in Minot, North Dakota, from 1959 to 1963. He joined the Air National Guard in 1963 in Appleton, Wisconsin. John transferred to the Air National Guard in Madison from February 1965 and retired USMC USAF, SMSGT E-8 in December 1992.
John was highly decorated and received the following Military Ribbons and Decorations: USMC Ribbon, USMC Good Conduct Ribbon, National Defense Ribbon, USMC Expert Rifle Medal, USAF Ribbon, Longevity Ribbon, Expert Rifle Ribbon and Competition Medals, USAF Gold Distinguished Shooting, Fort Riley, K.S., USAF Silver Medal for Distinguished Shooting, Camp Perry, O.H., Missile Safety Award Citation 128TFW, USAF Unit Citation Awards 478th CHMRON SQ, 32th Camron SQ, 115th CAMRON SQ and 128th CHMRN SQ, Panama Canal Zone Ribbon, Outstanding Letters Operation Readiness Insp. 12th USAF Headquarters, Outstanding Letter President George Bush. He also received numerous awards and trophies during his service in the Marine Corp and Air Force as a sniper.
John was assigned, trained and worked with the 115th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Truax field in Madison, WI, as a munitions expert. He held top secret security clearance and served on 48 different military bases during his career. He was involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis, Panama Invasion and Desert Storm. John worked and trained as an advisor, and fellow worker to many foreign countries such as: UK, Britain RAF, the former West Germany, Luftwaff AF, Netherlands, and Holland RDAF. John worked on various aircraft throughout his career, starting with the F-84, F-86, F-89, F-100, F-101, F-102, F-106, A-37, O-2A, A-10, B-52, 716, and also had flight time in the T-33, F-89 and O-2A.
John enjoyed hunting, fishing, the outdoors, raising English Setters and his family, but most of all his grandchildren.
John is survived by Elizabeth F. Martin (Roche), Green Bay, WI; his children: Kathleen (Keith Forst) Martin, Marshall, WI; Wayne (Kathleen) Roche, Arlington, WI; Kenneth (Rose Schumacher) Roche, Green Bay, WI; grandchildren: Tessa Roche, Kyle Popp, Brad Roche, Cassandra Roche, Kenneth Roche, Dylan Popp, Benjamin Roche, Brittney Roche, Keegan Roche and Kayleigh Roche; great-grandchild, Nevaes Roche; brothers: Patrick (Rita) Roche, Clyde Roche, Robert Roche, Joseph Roche, Donald (Pat) Roche and Maurice Roche; other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents: Walter P. Roche and Mary A. (Garvey) Roche; sons: Patrick John and John G. Jr.; brother, Kenneth Roche; sisters: Corrinne (Pete) Kissinger and Helen Winslow; sister-in-law, Erdine Roche.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. NICHOLAS CATHOLIC CHURCH, W2037 County Road S, Freedom, WI 54130 on Monday, October 13, 2008, at 12 noon with Father David Hoffman officiating. Burial to conclude at St. Nicholas Cemetery. A visitation will be held at church on Monday from 10 a.m. until the time of Mass. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital or to the William S. Middleton Memorial Veteran's Hospital, 2500 Overlook Terrace, Madison, WI 53792.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to all of his fellow veterans, friends and neighbors for their friendship and kindness.
Those we love and remain with is for love itself lives on and cherished memories never fade because a loved one's gone. Those we love can never be more than a thought apart for as long as there is memory, they live on in the heart. John will be dearly missed by all.
Ryan Funeral Home
& Cremation Services
Windsor/DeForest Chapel
6924 Lake Road
608-846-4250
www.ryanfuneral
service.com
|
1937 - 2008 (71 years)
