Official Obituary of
John William Wrench
October 29, 1916 ~ April 14, 2012 (age 95) 95 Years Old
John Wrench Obituary
John William Wrench, 95, of Deland, Il died peacefully at his home with loved ones early Saturday afternoon, 4/14/2012. He was born October 29, 1916 in White Heath, IL, son of John William and Alice Paugh Wrench. He married Dora Lillian Jeffery in England during WWII on December 18, 1943. She preceded him in death in 1999 after 56 years of marriage. He married Mollie Dolven in February, 2011. She survives. Also surviving are children Gerald (Linda) Wrench, Marinette, WI; Anita (Harlan) Long, Guffey, CO; Linda (Kerry) ONeal, Debary, FL; Jeffery (Angie) Wrench, Monticello, and Dora Talbert, Deland; grandchildren David (Donna), Debbie, Justin (Stacey), Shawna (Todd) , Angie (Asa), Sara (Steve), Bryan (Amanda), Jesse, Nik, John, Jeffery as well as 11 great grandchildren and many beloved nieces and nephews. Also surviving are brother-in-law, Virgil Tate, Gurnee, IL and sisters-in-law Edna Parks and Brenda Davies, both of England.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Dora; his siblings Hubert Wrench, Mildred Gronemeier and Roberta Tate; and brother-in-law Keith Parks.
John graduated from Deland High School and entered the Army Air Corps on November 4, 1940 after briefly attending Illinois State Normal University. He served in England during WWII repairing airplane electronics. After 25 years and various base assignments as an electronics instructor, he retired from Chanute Air Force Base, Rantoul, IL as Chief Master Sergeant on May 31, 1965. Most notable in his service was his promotion to Chief Master Sergeant as one of the first 620 (now known as Charter Chiefs) to be promoted into the newly created E9 rank on December 1, 1959.
After his retirement from the Air Force, John owned and operated the A&W Root Beer Stand in Monticello, and subsequently worked well into his 80s in various sales positions in Champaign, Bloomington and True Value in Monticello. He enjoyed working with his hands, teaching, playing cards (especially cribbage, euchre and pinochle) and caring for many generations of his family. John, who never met a stranger, was always positive and had a smile and kind word for all. His greatest joys were his kids, grandkids and family.
He was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 102 in Deland, IL, a member of the Air Force Charter Chiefs Association and The Illinois 40 et 8. The family requests memorial contributions be made to the Deland American Legion Post 102 (rebuilding fund), PO Box 264, Deland, Il 61839-0264 in memory of John and the Greatest Generation.
A celebration of life ceremony will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, April 19, 2012 at the Mackey-Wright Funeral Home, Monticello with Rev. Dan Seibert officiating. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service. Private family inurnment will be held at Ingram Cemetery.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Dora; his siblings Hubert Wrench, Mildred Gronemeier and Roberta Tate; and brother-in-law Keith Parks.
John graduated from Deland High School and entered the Army Air Corps on November 4, 1940 after briefly attending Illinois State Normal University. He served in England during WWII repairing airplane electronics. After 25 years and various base assignments as an electronics instructor, he retired from Chanute Air Force Base, Rantoul, IL as Chief Master Sergeant on May 31, 1965. Most notable in his service was his promotion to Chief Master Sergeant as one of the first 620 (now known as Charter Chiefs) to be promoted into the newly created E9 rank on December 1, 1959.
After his retirement from the Air Force, John owned and operated the A&W Root Beer Stand in Monticello, and subsequently worked well into his 80s in various sales positions in Champaign, Bloomington and True Value in Monticello. He enjoyed working with his hands, teaching, playing cards (especially cribbage, euchre and pinochle) and caring for many generations of his family. John, who never met a stranger, was always positive and had a smile and kind word for all. His greatest joys were his kids, grandkids and family.
He was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 102 in Deland, IL, a member of the Air Force Charter Chiefs Association and The Illinois 40 et 8. The family requests memorial contributions be made to the Deland American Legion Post 102 (rebuilding fund), PO Box 264, Deland, Il 61839-0264 in memory of John and the Greatest Generation.
A celebration of life ceremony will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, April 19, 2012 at the Mackey-Wright Funeral Home, Monticello with Rev. Dan Seibert officiating. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service. Private family inurnment will be held at Ingram Cemetery.
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