John M. Rockwood Sr.

TRAVERSE CITY — John M. Rockwood Sr., 93, of Traverse City, died Dec. 12, 2008, at Orchard Creek Nursing Home.

John was one of Michigan's few remaining Pearl Harbor survivors. A naval officer at the time of the attack, he was serving as the Engineering Officer aboard a destroyer, the U.S.S. Macdonough. The Macdonough was one of the few ships that was undamaged and able to leave port after the attack. He would later participate in most of the major Pacific sea battles and achieve the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

John was born Jan. 24, 1915, in Elmhurst, Ill., to the late Frederick and Ruth Rockwood. He attended preparatory school at Asheville School in Asheville, N.C., then went on to Cornell University, where he studied engineering. He met Patricia Dean at Glen Lake, where both families spent their summers. They were married on May 16, 1942, in Hinsdale, Ill. After World War II, they moved to Barrington, Ill., where they would raise their five children.

John went to work for Dean Foods and retired from that company as Executive Vice President in 1975.

John and Patricia moved to the Leelanau County area in the late 1970s. He was an active member of the Central United Methodist Church in Traverse City, and served on the Board of Directors of the Center for Defense Information in Washington, D.C. and Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill. He loved boats and was a life-long sailor. He also enjoyed restoring old, historic homes.

Surviving John are three sons and two daughters, John Jr. (Virginia) of Maple City, Andrew (Margaret) and William (Donna) of Barrington, Patricia Rockwood of San Diego, and Susan (Robert) Bourne of Traverse City; nine grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia.

A service for his family has been held and burial has taken place at Oakwood Cemetery in Traverse City.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Central United Methodist Church.

The family is being served by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, Traverse City; www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.

This obituary was originally published in the Record-Eagle.