John R. McCormick
( October 08, 1918 - November 10, 2008 )
Lt. Col. John R. McCormick age 90 of Sycamore, IL, died on Monday November 10, 2008 in the Pine Acres Rehab. & Living Center in DeKalb. Born on October 8, 1918 in DeKalb, he was the oldest of 9 siblings of John J. and Mary (Jordan) McCormick. John attended St. Mary grade school, and graduated from DeKalb Township High School class of 1937. John married E. Phyllis Hueber of Northwest Malta on February 22, 1941. He worked for the Cortland Grain and Lumber Yard. John volunteered for WW.II. Army Air Corps, reporting in January 30, 1943. After his cadet training, John earned his pilot "Wings" March 1944. John and his crew of nine on a B-17 flew to Nuthampstead, England in the 8th Air Force. John and his crew went down near Berlin, Germany February 3, 1945, which was their 26th mission. By all logic John?s number should have been up as John was the lone survivor. After a few days in hospital and unable to walk John was forced to travel by rail to several different prison camps ending up in Mooseburg Stalag VII A, just north of Munich. With no food, no heat, and no blankets, the most welcomed thing was their care package from the Red Cross. On April 29, 1945 trucks and guns were heard, and that is when General George S. Patton and his Army Division liberated thousands of prisoners. It was several days before John reached Camp Lucky Strike in France where the men were welcomed to hot showers and clean uniforms. Accidently John saw his cousin Vic McMenamin going thru the same process. After 16 days on the high seas John gained his much needed weight back and finally reached home on June of 1945. A year later John retired from Active duty, but remained in the Reserves, called on to fly the National Guard to their duties. He then returned to work at the Cortland, Malta, Elva Grain Company with Ray Katz. March 1951 John was recalled for the Korean Conflict, stationed at the Ellsworth AFB in Rapid City, SD. There John was made Command Pilot on the B-36 with a crew of 22 men, flying the aircraft for 7 years, then moved into the new B-52. He spent one year in Vietnam from 1965-1966. John voluntarily retired having served faithfully and honorably with the United States Air Force on December 30, 1969. John and Phyllis retired in Carmichael, CA, where John designed and built their new home. John and Phyllis traveled near and far, flying to Ireland 4 times where John search his Irish roots. After 40 years the U.S. government released W.W.II. data, and with that information John returned Germany to seek his crash sight, and subsequently made four more trips back to the crash site and prison camp. In his spare time he built several pieces of furniture, including 2 grandfather clocks. After 25 years in California they moved back home in 1996. John is survived by his wife: Phyllis of Sycamore, 2 sisters: Rosann Shipman of Sycamore, Helen (Gordon) Plucker of Oregon, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by: parents, 4 brothers: Bernard, Don, Malachi, Patrick, 2 sisters: Roberta Lagermeier, Catherine Hakala, and brother-in-law: Laurie Shipman.
Funeral Mass will be held on Friday November 14, 2008 at 10:00AM in the St. Mary Catholic Church in DeKalb with Father Kenneth Anderson officiating. Burial with Full Military Honors will be in Fairview Park Cemetery in DeKalb. Visitation will be held on Thursday November 13, 2008 from 1:00 PM till 3:00 PM with a Wake service at 2:45 PM in the funeral home. Visitation will also be held on Friday November 14, 2008 at 9:00AM till the time of the service in the church. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the family to be established at a later date. To send an online condolence visit: www.ronanmoorefinch.com. Arrangements were entrusted to: Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home 310 Oak St. DeKalb, IL, 60115 (815)758-3841.
Service:
Friday November 14, 2008
10:00AM
St. Mary Catholic Church in DeKalb
Visitation:
Thursday November 13, 2008
1:00 PM till 3:00 PM
Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home
----------
LT. COL., JOHN R. McCormick
John R. McCormick, 90, of Sycamore, Ill., died Monday Nov. 10, 2008, at Pine Acres Rehab & Living Center in DeKalb.
Born Oct. 8, 1918, in DeKalb, he was the oldest of nine siblings and the son of John J. and Mary (Jordan) McCormick. John attended St. Mary grade school, and graduated from DeKalb Township High School, Class of 1937. John married E. Phyllis Hueber of northwest Malta on Feb. 22, 1941.
He worked for the Cortland Grain and Lumber Yard. John volunteered for World War II in the U.S. Army Air Corps, reporting Jan. 30, 1943. After his cadet training, John earned his pilot "wings" In March 1944. John, and his crew of nine on a B-17, flew to Nuthampstead, England, in the 8th Air Force. John and his crew went down near Berlin, Germany, on Feb. 3, 1945, which was their 26th mission. By all logic John's number should have been up as John was the lone survivor. After a few days in a hospital and unable to walk. John was forced to travel by rail to several different prison camps. ending up in Mooseburg Stalag VII A, just north of Munich. With no food, no heat and no blankets, the most welcomed thing was their care package from the Red Cross. On April 29, 1945. trucks and guns were heard, and that is when General George S. Patton and his Army Division liberated thousands of prisoners. It was several days before John reached Camp Lucky Strike in France, where the men were welcomed to hot showers and clean uniforms. Accidentally, John saw his cousin, Vic McMenamin, going through the same process. After 16 days on the high seas John gained his much needed weight back and finally reached home in June 1945. A year later, John retired from active duty, but remained in the Reserves, called on to fly the National Guard to their duties.
He then returned to work at the Cortland, Malta, Elva Grain Company with Ray Katz. In March 1951, John was recalled for the Korean Conflict, stationed at the Ellsworth AFB in Rapid City, S.D. There John was made command pilot on the B-36 with a crew of 22 men, flying the aircraft for seven years, then moved into the new B-52. He spent one year in Vietnam from 1965-1966. John voluntarily retired, having served faithfully and honorably with the United States Air Force, on Dec. 30, 1969.
John and Phyllis retired in Carmichael, Calif., where John designed and built their new home. John and Phyllis traveled near and far, flying four times to Ireland, where John searched for his Irish roots. After 40 years, the U.S. government released WWII data, and with that information, John returned Germany to seek his crash sight, and subsequently made four more trips back to the crash site and prison camp.
In his spare time he built several pieces of furniture, including two grandfather clocks. After 25 years in California, they moved back home in 1996.
John is survived by his wife, Phyllis, of Sycamore; two sisters, Rosann Shipman of Sycamore and Helen (Gordon) Plucker of Oregon; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Bernard, Don, Malachi and Patrick; two sisters, Roberta Lagermeier and Catherine Hakala; and a brother-in-law, Laurie Shipman.
The funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 14, at St. Mary Catholic Church in DeKalb, with Father Kenneth Anderson officiating. Burial with full military honors will be at Fairview Park Cemetery in DeKalb. Visitation will be from 1-3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, at Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home in DeKalb, with a wake service at 2:45 p.m. Visitation will also be held from 9 a.m. Friday until the time of the service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the family for a fund to be established at a later date. To send an online condolence visit www.ronanmoorefinch.com. Arrangements were entrusted to Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home, 310 Oak St., DeKalb, IL 60115; 815-758-3841.
Published in the Daily Chronicle from 11/12/2008 - 11/15/2008
( October 08, 1918 - November 10, 2008 )
Lt. Col. John R. McCormick age 90 of Sycamore, IL, died on Monday November 10, 2008 in the Pine Acres Rehab. & Living Center in DeKalb. Born on October 8, 1918 in DeKalb, he was the oldest of 9 siblings of John J. and Mary (Jordan) McCormick. John attended St. Mary grade school, and graduated from DeKalb Township High School class of 1937. John married E. Phyllis Hueber of Northwest Malta on February 22, 1941. He worked for the Cortland Grain and Lumber Yard. John volunteered for WW.II. Army Air Corps, reporting in January 30, 1943. After his cadet training, John earned his pilot "Wings" March 1944. John and his crew of nine on a B-17 flew to Nuthampstead, England in the 8th Air Force. John and his crew went down near Berlin, Germany February 3, 1945, which was their 26th mission. By all logic John?s number should have been up as John was the lone survivor. After a few days in hospital and unable to walk John was forced to travel by rail to several different prison camps ending up in Mooseburg Stalag VII A, just north of Munich. With no food, no heat, and no blankets, the most welcomed thing was their care package from the Red Cross. On April 29, 1945 trucks and guns were heard, and that is when General George S. Patton and his Army Division liberated thousands of prisoners. It was several days before John reached Camp Lucky Strike in France where the men were welcomed to hot showers and clean uniforms. Accidently John saw his cousin Vic McMenamin going thru the same process. After 16 days on the high seas John gained his much needed weight back and finally reached home on June of 1945. A year later John retired from Active duty, but remained in the Reserves, called on to fly the National Guard to their duties. He then returned to work at the Cortland, Malta, Elva Grain Company with Ray Katz. March 1951 John was recalled for the Korean Conflict, stationed at the Ellsworth AFB in Rapid City, SD. There John was made Command Pilot on the B-36 with a crew of 22 men, flying the aircraft for 7 years, then moved into the new B-52. He spent one year in Vietnam from 1965-1966. John voluntarily retired having served faithfully and honorably with the United States Air Force on December 30, 1969. John and Phyllis retired in Carmichael, CA, where John designed and built their new home. John and Phyllis traveled near and far, flying to Ireland 4 times where John search his Irish roots. After 40 years the U.S. government released W.W.II. data, and with that information John returned Germany to seek his crash sight, and subsequently made four more trips back to the crash site and prison camp. In his spare time he built several pieces of furniture, including 2 grandfather clocks. After 25 years in California they moved back home in 1996. John is survived by his wife: Phyllis of Sycamore, 2 sisters: Rosann Shipman of Sycamore, Helen (Gordon) Plucker of Oregon, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by: parents, 4 brothers: Bernard, Don, Malachi, Patrick, 2 sisters: Roberta Lagermeier, Catherine Hakala, and brother-in-law: Laurie Shipman.
Funeral Mass will be held on Friday November 14, 2008 at 10:00AM in the St. Mary Catholic Church in DeKalb with Father Kenneth Anderson officiating. Burial with Full Military Honors will be in Fairview Park Cemetery in DeKalb. Visitation will be held on Thursday November 13, 2008 from 1:00 PM till 3:00 PM with a Wake service at 2:45 PM in the funeral home. Visitation will also be held on Friday November 14, 2008 at 9:00AM till the time of the service in the church. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the family to be established at a later date. To send an online condolence visit: www.ronanmoorefinch.com. Arrangements were entrusted to: Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home 310 Oak St. DeKalb, IL, 60115 (815)758-3841.
Service:
Friday November 14, 2008
10:00AM
St. Mary Catholic Church in DeKalb
Visitation:
Thursday November 13, 2008
1:00 PM till 3:00 PM
Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home
----------
LT. COL., JOHN R. McCormick
John R. McCormick, 90, of Sycamore, Ill., died Monday Nov. 10, 2008, at Pine Acres Rehab & Living Center in DeKalb.
Born Oct. 8, 1918, in DeKalb, he was the oldest of nine siblings and the son of John J. and Mary (Jordan) McCormick. John attended St. Mary grade school, and graduated from DeKalb Township High School, Class of 1937. John married E. Phyllis Hueber of northwest Malta on Feb. 22, 1941.
He worked for the Cortland Grain and Lumber Yard. John volunteered for World War II in the U.S. Army Air Corps, reporting Jan. 30, 1943. After his cadet training, John earned his pilot "wings" In March 1944. John, and his crew of nine on a B-17, flew to Nuthampstead, England, in the 8th Air Force. John and his crew went down near Berlin, Germany, on Feb. 3, 1945, which was their 26th mission. By all logic John's number should have been up as John was the lone survivor. After a few days in a hospital and unable to walk. John was forced to travel by rail to several different prison camps. ending up in Mooseburg Stalag VII A, just north of Munich. With no food, no heat and no blankets, the most welcomed thing was their care package from the Red Cross. On April 29, 1945. trucks and guns were heard, and that is when General George S. Patton and his Army Division liberated thousands of prisoners. It was several days before John reached Camp Lucky Strike in France, where the men were welcomed to hot showers and clean uniforms. Accidentally, John saw his cousin, Vic McMenamin, going through the same process. After 16 days on the high seas John gained his much needed weight back and finally reached home in June 1945. A year later, John retired from active duty, but remained in the Reserves, called on to fly the National Guard to their duties.
He then returned to work at the Cortland, Malta, Elva Grain Company with Ray Katz. In March 1951, John was recalled for the Korean Conflict, stationed at the Ellsworth AFB in Rapid City, S.D. There John was made command pilot on the B-36 with a crew of 22 men, flying the aircraft for seven years, then moved into the new B-52. He spent one year in Vietnam from 1965-1966. John voluntarily retired, having served faithfully and honorably with the United States Air Force, on Dec. 30, 1969.
John and Phyllis retired in Carmichael, Calif., where John designed and built their new home. John and Phyllis traveled near and far, flying four times to Ireland, where John searched for his Irish roots. After 40 years, the U.S. government released WWII data, and with that information, John returned Germany to seek his crash sight, and subsequently made four more trips back to the crash site and prison camp.
In his spare time he built several pieces of furniture, including two grandfather clocks. After 25 years in California, they moved back home in 1996.
John is survived by his wife, Phyllis, of Sycamore; two sisters, Rosann Shipman of Sycamore and Helen (Gordon) Plucker of Oregon; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Bernard, Don, Malachi and Patrick; two sisters, Roberta Lagermeier and Catherine Hakala; and a brother-in-law, Laurie Shipman.
The funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 14, at St. Mary Catholic Church in DeKalb, with Father Kenneth Anderson officiating. Burial with full military honors will be at Fairview Park Cemetery in DeKalb. Visitation will be from 1-3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, at Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home in DeKalb, with a wake service at 2:45 p.m. Visitation will also be held from 9 a.m. Friday until the time of the service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the family for a fund to be established at a later date. To send an online condolence visit www.ronanmoorefinch.com. Arrangements were entrusted to Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home, 310 Oak St., DeKalb, IL 60115; 815-758-3841.
Published in the Daily Chronicle from 11/12/2008 - 11/15/2008
John R. McCormick
( October 08, 1918 - November 10, 2008 )
Lt. Col. John R. McCormick age 90 of Sycamore, IL, died on Monday November 10, 2008 in the Pine Acres Rehab. & Living Center in DeKalb. Born on October 8, 1918 in DeKalb, he was the oldest of 9 siblings of John J. and Mary (Jordan) McCormick. John attended St. Mary grade school, and graduated from DeKalb Township High School class of 1937. John married E. Phyllis Hueber of Northwest Malta on February 22, 1941. He worked for the Cortland Grain and Lumber Yard. John volunteered for WW.II. Army Air Corps, reporting in January 30, 1943. After his cadet training, John earned his pilot "Wings" March 1944. John and his crew of nine on a B-17 flew to Nuthampstead, England in the 8th Air Force. John and his crew went down near Berlin, Germany February 3, 1945, which was their 26th mission. By all logic John?s number should have been up as John was the lone survivor. After a few days in hospital and unable to walk John was forced to travel by rail to several different prison camps ending up in Mooseburg Stalag VII A, just north of Munich. With no food, no heat, and no blankets, the most welcomed thing was their care package from the Red Cross. On April 29, 1945 trucks and guns were heard, and that is when General George S. Patton and his Army Division liberated thousands of prisoners. It was several days before John reached Camp Lucky Strike in France where the men were welcomed to hot showers and clean uniforms. Accidently John saw his cousin Vic McMenamin going thru the same process. After 16 days on the high seas John gained his much needed weight back and finally reached home on June of 1945. A year later John retired from Active duty, but remained in the Reserves, called on to fly the National Guard to their duties. He then returned to work at the Cortland, Malta, Elva Grain Company with Ray Katz. March 1951 John was recalled for the Korean Conflict, stationed at the Ellsworth AFB in Rapid City, SD. There John was made Command Pilot on the B-36 with a crew of 22 men, flying the aircraft for 7 years, then moved into the new B-52. He spent one year in Vietnam from 1965-1966. John voluntarily retired having served faithfully and honorably with the United States Air Force on December 30, 1969. John and Phyllis retired in Carmichael, CA, where John designed and built their new home. John and Phyllis traveled near and far, flying to Ireland 4 times where John search his Irish roots. After 40 years the U.S. government released W.W.II. data, and with that information John returned Germany to seek his crash sight, and subsequently made four more trips back to the crash site and prison camp. In his spare time he built several pieces of furniture, including 2 grandfather clocks. After 25 years in California they moved back home in 1996. John is survived by his wife: Phyllis of Sycamore, 2 sisters: Rosann Shipman of Sycamore, Helen (Gordon) Plucker of Oregon, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by: parents, 4 brothers: Bernard, Don, Malachi, Patrick, 2 sisters: Roberta Lagermeier, Catherine Hakala, and brother-in-law: Laurie Shipman.
Funeral Mass will be held on Friday November 14, 2008 at 10:00AM in the St. Mary Catholic Church in DeKalb with Father Kenneth Anderson officiating. Burial with Full Military Honors will be in Fairview Park Cemetery in DeKalb. Visitation will be held on Thursday November 13, 2008 from 1:00 PM till 3:00 PM with a Wake service at 2:45 PM in the funeral home. Visitation will also be held on Friday November 14, 2008 at 9:00AM till the time of the service in the church. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the family to be established at a later date. To send an online condolence visit: www.ronanmoorefinch.com. Arrangements were entrusted to: Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home 310 Oak St. DeKalb, IL, 60115 (815)758-3841.
Service:
Friday November 14, 2008
10:00AM
St. Mary Catholic Church in DeKalb
Visitation:
Thursday November 13, 2008
1:00 PM till 3:00 PM
Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home
----------
LT. COL., JOHN R. McCormick
John R. McCormick, 90, of Sycamore, Ill., died Monday Nov. 10, 2008, at Pine Acres Rehab & Living Center in DeKalb.
Born Oct. 8, 1918, in DeKalb, he was the oldest of nine siblings and the son of John J. and Mary (Jordan) McCormick. John attended St. Mary grade school, and graduated from DeKalb Township High School, Class of 1937. John married E. Phyllis Hueber of northwest Malta on Feb. 22, 1941.
He worked for the Cortland Grain and Lumber Yard. John volunteered for World War II in the U.S. Army Air Corps, reporting Jan. 30, 1943. After his cadet training, John earned his pilot "wings" In March 1944. John, and his crew of nine on a B-17, flew to Nuthampstead, England, in the 8th Air Force. John and his crew went down near Berlin, Germany, on Feb. 3, 1945, which was their 26th mission. By all logic John's number should have been up as John was the lone survivor. After a few days in a hospital and unable to walk. John was forced to travel by rail to several different prison camps. ending up in Mooseburg Stalag VII A, just north of Munich. With no food, no heat and no blankets, the most welcomed thing was their care package from the Red Cross. On April 29, 1945. trucks and guns were heard, and that is when General George S. Patton and his Army Division liberated thousands of prisoners. It was several days before John reached Camp Lucky Strike in France, where the men were welcomed to hot showers and clean uniforms. Accidentally, John saw his cousin, Vic McMenamin, going through the same process. After 16 days on the high seas John gained his much needed weight back and finally reached home in June 1945. A year later, John retired from active duty, but remained in the Reserves, called on to fly the National Guard to their duties.
He then returned to work at the Cortland, Malta, Elva Grain Company with Ray Katz. In March 1951, John was recalled for the Korean Conflict, stationed at the Ellsworth AFB in Rapid City, S.D. There John was made command pilot on the B-36 with a crew of 22 men, flying the aircraft for seven years, then moved into the new B-52. He spent one year in Vietnam from 1965-1966. John voluntarily retired, having served faithfully and honorably with the United States Air Force, on Dec. 30, 1969.
John and Phyllis retired in Carmichael, Calif., where John designed and built their new home. John and Phyllis traveled near and far, flying four times to Ireland, where John searched for his Irish roots. After 40 years, the U.S. government released WWII data, and with that information, John returned Germany to seek his crash sight, and subsequently made four more trips back to the crash site and prison camp.
In his spare time he built several pieces of furniture, including two grandfather clocks. After 25 years in California, they moved back home in 1996.
John is survived by his wife, Phyllis, of Sycamore; two sisters, Rosann Shipman of Sycamore and Helen (Gordon) Plucker of Oregon; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Bernard, Don, Malachi and Patrick; two sisters, Roberta Lagermeier and Catherine Hakala; and a brother-in-law, Laurie Shipman.
The funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 14, at St. Mary Catholic Church in DeKalb, with Father Kenneth Anderson officiating. Burial with full military honors will be at Fairview Park Cemetery in DeKalb. Visitation will be from 1-3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, at Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home in DeKalb, with a wake service at 2:45 p.m. Visitation will also be held from 9 a.m. Friday until the time of the service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the family for a fund to be established at a later date. To send an online condolence visit www.ronanmoorefinch.com. Arrangements were entrusted to Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home, 310 Oak St., DeKalb, IL 60115; 815-758-3841.
Published in the Daily Chronicle from 11/12/2008 - 11/15/2008
( October 08, 1918 - November 10, 2008 )
Lt. Col. John R. McCormick age 90 of Sycamore, IL, died on Monday November 10, 2008 in the Pine Acres Rehab. & Living Center in DeKalb. Born on October 8, 1918 in DeKalb, he was the oldest of 9 siblings of John J. and Mary (Jordan) McCormick. John attended St. Mary grade school, and graduated from DeKalb Township High School class of 1937. John married E. Phyllis Hueber of Northwest Malta on February 22, 1941. He worked for the Cortland Grain and Lumber Yard. John volunteered for WW.II. Army Air Corps, reporting in January 30, 1943. After his cadet training, John earned his pilot "Wings" March 1944. John and his crew of nine on a B-17 flew to Nuthampstead, England in the 8th Air Force. John and his crew went down near Berlin, Germany February 3, 1945, which was their 26th mission. By all logic John?s number should have been up as John was the lone survivor. After a few days in hospital and unable to walk John was forced to travel by rail to several different prison camps ending up in Mooseburg Stalag VII A, just north of Munich. With no food, no heat, and no blankets, the most welcomed thing was their care package from the Red Cross. On April 29, 1945 trucks and guns were heard, and that is when General George S. Patton and his Army Division liberated thousands of prisoners. It was several days before John reached Camp Lucky Strike in France where the men were welcomed to hot showers and clean uniforms. Accidently John saw his cousin Vic McMenamin going thru the same process. After 16 days on the high seas John gained his much needed weight back and finally reached home on June of 1945. A year later John retired from Active duty, but remained in the Reserves, called on to fly the National Guard to their duties. He then returned to work at the Cortland, Malta, Elva Grain Company with Ray Katz. March 1951 John was recalled for the Korean Conflict, stationed at the Ellsworth AFB in Rapid City, SD. There John was made Command Pilot on the B-36 with a crew of 22 men, flying the aircraft for 7 years, then moved into the new B-52. He spent one year in Vietnam from 1965-1966. John voluntarily retired having served faithfully and honorably with the United States Air Force on December 30, 1969. John and Phyllis retired in Carmichael, CA, where John designed and built their new home. John and Phyllis traveled near and far, flying to Ireland 4 times where John search his Irish roots. After 40 years the U.S. government released W.W.II. data, and with that information John returned Germany to seek his crash sight, and subsequently made four more trips back to the crash site and prison camp. In his spare time he built several pieces of furniture, including 2 grandfather clocks. After 25 years in California they moved back home in 1996. John is survived by his wife: Phyllis of Sycamore, 2 sisters: Rosann Shipman of Sycamore, Helen (Gordon) Plucker of Oregon, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by: parents, 4 brothers: Bernard, Don, Malachi, Patrick, 2 sisters: Roberta Lagermeier, Catherine Hakala, and brother-in-law: Laurie Shipman.
Funeral Mass will be held on Friday November 14, 2008 at 10:00AM in the St. Mary Catholic Church in DeKalb with Father Kenneth Anderson officiating. Burial with Full Military Honors will be in Fairview Park Cemetery in DeKalb. Visitation will be held on Thursday November 13, 2008 from 1:00 PM till 3:00 PM with a Wake service at 2:45 PM in the funeral home. Visitation will also be held on Friday November 14, 2008 at 9:00AM till the time of the service in the church. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the family to be established at a later date. To send an online condolence visit: www.ronanmoorefinch.com. Arrangements were entrusted to: Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home 310 Oak St. DeKalb, IL, 60115 (815)758-3841.
Service:
Friday November 14, 2008
10:00AM
St. Mary Catholic Church in DeKalb
Visitation:
Thursday November 13, 2008
1:00 PM till 3:00 PM
Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home
----------
LT. COL., JOHN R. McCormick
John R. McCormick, 90, of Sycamore, Ill., died Monday Nov. 10, 2008, at Pine Acres Rehab & Living Center in DeKalb.
Born Oct. 8, 1918, in DeKalb, he was the oldest of nine siblings and the son of John J. and Mary (Jordan) McCormick. John attended St. Mary grade school, and graduated from DeKalb Township High School, Class of 1937. John married E. Phyllis Hueber of northwest Malta on Feb. 22, 1941.
He worked for the Cortland Grain and Lumber Yard. John volunteered for World War II in the U.S. Army Air Corps, reporting Jan. 30, 1943. After his cadet training, John earned his pilot "wings" In March 1944. John, and his crew of nine on a B-17, flew to Nuthampstead, England, in the 8th Air Force. John and his crew went down near Berlin, Germany, on Feb. 3, 1945, which was their 26th mission. By all logic John's number should have been up as John was the lone survivor. After a few days in a hospital and unable to walk. John was forced to travel by rail to several different prison camps. ending up in Mooseburg Stalag VII A, just north of Munich. With no food, no heat and no blankets, the most welcomed thing was their care package from the Red Cross. On April 29, 1945. trucks and guns were heard, and that is when General George S. Patton and his Army Division liberated thousands of prisoners. It was several days before John reached Camp Lucky Strike in France, where the men were welcomed to hot showers and clean uniforms. Accidentally, John saw his cousin, Vic McMenamin, going through the same process. After 16 days on the high seas John gained his much needed weight back and finally reached home in June 1945. A year later, John retired from active duty, but remained in the Reserves, called on to fly the National Guard to their duties.
He then returned to work at the Cortland, Malta, Elva Grain Company with Ray Katz. In March 1951, John was recalled for the Korean Conflict, stationed at the Ellsworth AFB in Rapid City, S.D. There John was made command pilot on the B-36 with a crew of 22 men, flying the aircraft for seven years, then moved into the new B-52. He spent one year in Vietnam from 1965-1966. John voluntarily retired, having served faithfully and honorably with the United States Air Force, on Dec. 30, 1969.
John and Phyllis retired in Carmichael, Calif., where John designed and built their new home. John and Phyllis traveled near and far, flying four times to Ireland, where John searched for his Irish roots. After 40 years, the U.S. government released WWII data, and with that information, John returned Germany to seek his crash sight, and subsequently made four more trips back to the crash site and prison camp.
In his spare time he built several pieces of furniture, including two grandfather clocks. After 25 years in California, they moved back home in 1996.
John is survived by his wife, Phyllis, of Sycamore; two sisters, Rosann Shipman of Sycamore and Helen (Gordon) Plucker of Oregon; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Bernard, Don, Malachi and Patrick; two sisters, Roberta Lagermeier and Catherine Hakala; and a brother-in-law, Laurie Shipman.
The funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 14, at St. Mary Catholic Church in DeKalb, with Father Kenneth Anderson officiating. Burial with full military honors will be at Fairview Park Cemetery in DeKalb. Visitation will be from 1-3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, at Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home in DeKalb, with a wake service at 2:45 p.m. Visitation will also be held from 9 a.m. Friday until the time of the service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the family for a fund to be established at a later date. To send an online condolence visit www.ronanmoorefinch.com. Arrangements were entrusted to Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home, 310 Oak St., DeKalb, IL 60115; 815-758-3841.
Published in the Daily Chronicle from 11/12/2008 - 11/15/2008
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