John "Jack" Merry

From his first breath in an Iowa farmhouse on June 3, 1926, to his last on August 21, 2013, in Albuquerque, N.M., Jack's life and career are worthy of a book, "Sojourns of a Sailor", started but never finished. His parents were tenant farmers; Jack was the second-born of six children. Jack and his siblings are deserving of the title "farm brats", because the family lived on seven different farms before moving to the small town of Primghar, Iowa. Fed up with farming and school, Jack cajoled his parents into signing consent papers for him to enlist in the Navy shortly after his 17th birthday; the country was embroiled in WWII. After boot training at Camp Ward, Farragut, Idaho, and additional training at the Fleet Sound School in San Diego, he was assigned to the destroyer USS Halford. The "Lucky Halford" earned five battle stars for action at Saipan, Guam, Peleliu, Leyte Gulf and Philippine landings - all without injury to any of the crew. Discharged in 1947, it only took a few months of civilian life to cause him to re-enlist. He rose in rank to Chief Petty Officer, was commissioned as Ensign in 1957, and over the next nine years his assignments included extended tours on the destroyer McKean, Eectronics Maintenance Officer on the carrier Midway, and Command Electronics Officer at the Naval Communication Station at Balboa, Panama Canal. In 1966, he was assigned to the Nuclear Weapons Center at Sandia in Albuquerque. He retired December 31, 1969, at the rank of Lt. Commander. Following retirement, he pursued a degree at the University of New Mexico, and then was employed by the John Johnston Industrial Heating and Air Conditioning Company. He attained a commercial aviation multi-engine license, plus instrument ratings, and flew to many parts of New Mexico in connection with his work. He fully retired in 1998, and concentrated on the game he loved - golf. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Patricia, and sister, Shirley VandenBrink. He is survived by his beloved companion of more than 20 years, Patricia Donatos; son, Bill (Cherie), Harker Heights, TX; two granddaughters and three great grandchildren; brothers, Tom, Primghar IA; Jim (Glennda), Tucson, AZ.; Ken (Mary), Stellacoom, WA; sister, Pat (Gary) Uittenbogaard, Casa Grande, AZ; and brother-in-law, Warren VandenBrink, Spirit Lake, IA. Pat Donatos and the family are deeply appreciative of the care provided Jack during the past several months by the nurses and staff at Anna Kaseman/Presbyterian Hospice. Graveside service will take place Friday, August 30, 2013, 11:15 a.m. at the Santa Fe National Cemetary, Santa Fe, N.M., with full military honors. Please visit our online guest book for Jack at . FRENCH - Lomas 10500 Lomas Blvd NE 505-275-3500