John Gustave Wolfshorndl

John Gustave Wolfshorndl was born on February 16, 1925 in Madera, California. He passed away on December 4, 2018 surrounded by his family in Merced, California. His parents were Gustav and Elisabeth Wolfshorndl. He had one sister Betty Acree who preceded him in death earlier this year. They lived on their ranch and dairy in Chowchilla in the Dairyland District. John attended Bethel Elementary School and graduated in 1943 from Chowchilla High School.

He enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces in June 1943. Military training included Basic Training in Kearns, UT; Aerial Gunnery, Laredo, TX; Armorer, Lowery Field, Denver, CO; Combat Crew Training, Peterson Field, CO and Mtn. Home, ID. Final Crew Training of Aerial Mapping at Will Rogers Field, OK. Foreign service was in Gushkara, India; Chanyi, China; India-Burma; and Central Burma with the 24th Combat Mapping Squadron, mapping strategic areas 20,000 feet above terrain. The most unforgettable event of the crew was getting through anti-aircraft barrage without having a foxhole to dive into. He flew eighteen combat missions in the B-24 as a nose gunner and helped to map terrain. He served 2 ½ years.

After returning home to Chowchilla, he soon married Glenda Wisener in 1951. He is survived by his wife Glenda, three children, Roger Wolfshorndl, Susan Isaak, and Mark Wolfshorndl, 8 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandson.

John was a founding member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Chowchilla. He was a member of Chowchilla Red Top Soil Conservation District for 70 years, Dairyland School Board member, Minturn Almond Huller Director, American Legion and VFW member, Boys State/Girls State organizer, and a member of the Chowchilla Rural Fire Department.

John loved life. If you knew John, you knew about his generosity, devotion and love for God, family, church, friends and neighbors. He loved to farm. He had a great sense of wit that made most people smile. His family and friends will miss going fishing, hunting, playing pinochle, and attending family events with him.

A Visitation will be held on Friday, December 14, 2018 at 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Cornerstone Community Church, 208 Fig Tree Drive in Chowchilla. A graveside service with military honors is scheduled for Saturday, December 15 at 9:15 am at Chowchilla Cemetery. A memorial service will follow at 10:30 am at Cornerstone Community Church, 208 Fig Tree Drive in Chowchilla. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Central Valley Honor Flight Fund c/o Central Valley Community Foundation, 5260 N. Palm, #122, Fresno, CA 93704 or Trinity Lutheran Church, Chowchilla.