Born John Thomas Heller, November 6, 1927 in Hazelton, Pennsylvania. The family relocated to Detroit in 1936 and he remained in the Detroit area for his entire life. John lived at Clawson Manor, Clawson, Michigan for the last 31 years. John Served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, his ship was on a secret mission to carry 1/3 of the atomic bomb to the South Pacific Tinian Island. As the ship returned, it was struck by a Japanese submarine. The men were in the ocean for five days, one third of the crew survived from the U.S.S. Indianapolis Mission. After the service, John worked as an optician from 1946 to 1951, he went on to run the Shell Service Station at 14 Mile and Eton for 27 years. In his retirement John worked in sales for Fisher Welding and Airgas. John is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Tom Burgess, his grandchildren, Kristen( Jon) Ruud and Aaron Burgess, and his great grandchildren, Jack and Micah. John is also survived by many friends from the American Legion, Bombay Yacht Club, The Hideout, and Put-In-Bay. A memeorial gathering will take place on Friday, April 11, 2014 from 10:00 a.m. until time of memorial service 11:00 a.m. at Big Beaver United Methodist Church, 3753 John R. Road, Troy, Michigan 48083 with Pastor David Huseltine officiating. Memorial contributions to the U.S.S. Indianapolis Museum, P.O> Box 441135, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 or American Legion Post 253, 1505 North Main St. Royal Oak, Michigan 48067
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