John Francis Dacy

JOHN FRANCIS DACY

Born: Oct. 4, 1915; in Harvard

Died: May 15, 2007

Although aviation was his passion, the relationships that he had with the customers at the airport, friends in the local community, and his family were his true love

HARVARD - John Francis Dacy, 91, of Harvard, died Tuesday, May 15, 2007.

He was born Oct. 4, 1915, in Harvard, to Jeremiah and Lydia (O'Brien).

John proudly served his country during World War II as a master sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps as crew chief of a B-24 bomber that was based in Italy. The B-24 on which he served, nicknamed the Shirley Jean, was one of the first B-24s to successfully complete 100 missions.

After returning home from the war, John married Elsie (Reese) in 1946 and started a family.

John founded Dacy Airport in Harvard, and the airport soon became his second home. He worked as a mechanic at the airport his entire life. Although aviation was his passion, the relationships that he had with the customers at the airport, friends in the local community, and his family were his true love.

He is survived by his wife, Elsie; his three sons, Robert, David (Lorry) and Phillip (Julia); his two daughters, Susan and Sheryl; two nephews; a niece; 14 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Jeremiah Dacy and Lydia Lakashe; his stepfather, Henry Lakashe; a sister, Katherine; and a son, Daniel Joseph.

Memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 18, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 206 E . Front St., Harvard.

Interment will be private.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be made in his name to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 101 Church St., Harvard, IL 60033, or Mercy Harvard Care Center, 901 Hayes St., Harvard, IL 60033.

Sign the online guest book at saundersmcfarlin.net

For information, call Saunders & McFarlin Funeral Home at (815) 943-5400.

Sign the guest book at www. NWHerald.com/obits