John was a East Pleasant Hill grade school and Lanphier High School graduate, and worked at Sangamo Electric until entering the air force and serving in the Pacific during WWII as flight engineer and top turret gunner on B-24 bombers. John and his crew were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for action over Iwo Jima on the flight that he was wounded on and later hospitalized. After finishing his service with 32 flight missions he returned to Springfield and Sangamo, married Helen Eggebeen and started a family.
On December 29, 1976, John married Norma Vanselow and spent the last 41 wonderful years with her, including 12 years in Rogers Arkansas, on Beaver Lake.
John knew many people and his son reports that they could not go anywhere without running into someone he knew. John enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and coached little league for many years.
Along with his parents, John was preceded in death by all his brothers and sisters: Nora Kemp, Joan Stone, Tom Roberts, Robin Evan Roberts, and George Roberts; daughter Sally and first wife Helen.
He is survived by William of South Haven, Michigan, Thomas of Cheyenne Wyoming, four grandchildren and one great grandson.
John was a East Pleasant Hill grade school and Lanphier High School graduate, and worked at Sangamo Electric until entering the air force and serving in the Pacific during WWII as flight engineer and top turret gunner on B-24 bombers. John and his crew were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for action over Iwo Jima on the flight that he was wounded on and later hospitalized. After finishing his service with 32 flight missions he returned to Springfield and Sangamo, married Helen Eggebeen and started a family.
On December 29, 1976, John married Norma Vanselow and spent the last 41 wonderful years with her, including 12 years in Rogers Arkansas, on Beaver Lake.
John knew many people and his son reports that they could not go anywhere without running into someone he knew. John enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and coached little league for many years.
Along with his parents, John was preceded in death by all his brothers and sisters: Nora Kemp, Joan Stone, Tom Roberts, Robin Evan Roberts, and George Roberts; daughter Sally and first wife Helen.
He is survived by William of South Haven, Michigan, Thomas of Cheyenne Wyoming, four grandchildren and one great grandson.
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