John J. Willats

John, the only child and son of Harry and Bernice '"Nee" Christiansen Willats, was born in Plainview, Nebraska on July 15, 1927. John graduated from Plainview High School in 1945, and served in the United States Navy from 1945 to 1948. After his service to our country, he returned to Nebraska and married his sweetheart, Lola Schultze, on June 12, 1949. She remained by his side for 63 years and lovingly cared for him during the last years and weeks of his life.

During World War II, John served with the Pacific Forces and remained an honored and proud veteran throughout his life. During the early years of their marriage, John worked for Morris White Car Dealership and later he and Lola ran a service station in Plainview to support their growing family. However, in 1956, he and Lola left their extended families and friends and moved their young family to California in search of educational opportunities for their second son, Ned, who is mentally handicapped. They ultimately settled in Pomona, California and remained there for the next 18 years. In 1974 they purchased a home in Ontario, Ca. where they lived until John retired.

John was employed with General Dynamics in Pomona, Ca. for almost 32 years. He retired in 1987 as a Senior Mechanical Engineer. He was most proud of having been involved in the development of the Sparrow air-to-air missile and the Phalanx CIWS.

After his retirement in 1987, John and Lola built their dream-retirement home in Hesperia, Ca. While living in Hesperia, John volunteered for the Hesperia Police Department with their Citizens' Patrol for ten years. He was very proud of having participated in the funeral for Roy Rogers. During the early years of his retirement, John and Lola enjoyed trips to Europe, Zion National Park, the Kentucky Derby, Hawaii, New England, Iceland, New Orleans and cruises to Hawaii, the Caribbean and the Panama Canal. They also enjoyed frequent trips to Nebraska to visit their many relatives and friends.

John also enjoyed woodworking and completed many projects for himself, Lola, his children and grandchildren. His most prized woodworking project is his grandfather clock which remains proudly displayed in his daughter's home.

John and Lola moved to Fresno in 2002 to be closer to their daughter. They were residents of Westlake Park Village for ten years and actively participated in dinners and card-games with the many friends they acquired there. John especially enjoyed his weekly friendly cribbage-competitions. Due to his declining health, John and Lola sold their mobile home in 2010 and moved to their daughter's home. John remained there until the end of his life.

Throughout his adult life, John was a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. While living in Pomona Ca., he was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church; while living in Ontario he was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Montclair, Ca; while living in Hesperia, he was a member at Faith Lutheran Church; and while living in Fresno, John has been a member of Peace Lutheran Church. He faithfully attended church while a member at each congregation and also served as an usher and church elder.

John will be best remembered by his family and friends as having been a loyal and kind human being who had a joyful and gregarious laugh! He was always ready to help his family, friends and neighbors and never expected anything in return. His love and friendship was unconditional. Without doubt, John was proudest of his children, grandchildren and

great-grandchildren. He never hesitated to tell each of them how proud he was of them, how much he loved them and he constantly encouraged each of them that they could accomplish whatever they wanted to accomplish if they just "put their mind to it".

The family wishes to especially thank Kaiser Hospital, Dr. John Reinsch, Dr. Karl Quinn, Dr. Randy Dockum, Rana Yamamura, LCSW, and Hinds Hospice for the compassion and care each of them personally showed towards John and his family during the past three years.

John is survived by Lola, his loving wife; and their three children, Steven and Joann Willats of Baltimore, Md., Ned Willats of Fresno, Ca. and Cheryl and Brent Coddington of Fresno, Ca. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Jason and Amanda M. Smithberg of Fresno, Ca., Allan and Desiree Smithberg of Ft. Drum, NY., Amanda R. Smithberg of Corona, Ca., Michelle and Kip Wetzel of Philadelphia, Pa., Bryan and Dineen Willats of Cape Town, South Africa, Susan and Tom McInerney of New York, NY., and Monica and Temy Mancusi-Ungaro of New York, NY; and three step-grandchildren, Joshua Coddington of Phoenix, Az., Mary Coddington of Seattle, Wa.; and Kathleen Coddington of Tustin, Ca.; Fifteen great-grandchildren also survive him, Danaka Smithberg, Layla Smithberg, Ashton Stephens, Jacob Stephens, Tinsley Smithberg, Cortland Smithberg, Anabelle Smithberg, Margaret Wetzel, Katherine Wetzel, Evan Wetzel, Patrick Willats, Jackson Willats, Claire McInerney, Drew McInerney, and Trey Mancusi-Ungaro as well two unborn great-grandchildren.

Memorial Services for John will be held at Peace Lutheran Church in Fresno, Ca. on Saturday, March 23, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. John will be interred with military honors at Avenue of The Flags at Victorville Valley Memorial Park, in Victorville, Ca. on Monday, March 25, 2013, at 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations be made in John Willats' memory to Nancy Hinds Hospice, 1616 W. Shaw Ave., Suite A-5, Fresno, Ca; The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 470 E. Herndon Ave., Suite 102, Fresno, Ca.; or Peace Lutheran Church in Fresno, Ca.