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BORN
1923
DIED
2014
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John Marcotte Obituary
Lt. Colonel, USAF, Retired
Aug. 2, 1923- Oct. 18, 2014
John Charles Marcotte, 91, passed away Saturday, October 18th, 2014, at Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City, CA. He spent 30 years in the USAF as a fighter pilot.
He was a veteran of World War II and Viet Nam. Among his many assignments were tours with NATO in France and Thule, Greenland. He was Commander of the 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron in Thailand and Commander of the 456th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Castle AFB. John was shot down over Europe in 1944 and survived 15 months as a German prison-of-war. He was decorated numerous times in combat.
Retiring to the Merced area, he pursued his other passion - golf. He won the 1982 Merced Golf Club Championship and the 1990 Merced Golf Club Invitational.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 71 years, Virginia, and his three sons, John, Jr. and his wife, Jan, Timothy, and Terry. Also surviving are two granddaugthers, their husbands, and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral Services will be held on Friday, October 24, 2014. Rosary will be said at St. Patrick's Catholic Church on Yosemite Ave. at 9:30 a.m. with Mass following at 10:00 a.m. A viewing will be held at noon at Stratford Evans Funeral home. Burial will be held at a later date at the Santa Nella Veteran's Cemetery. Flowers may be sent to Stratford Evans Funeral home or donations may be made to your favorite charity.
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Memories and Condolences
for John Marcotte
Carla Carson Koss, wife of Herber M. Koss
June 9, 2022
We worked for him at the 456FIS & 437FIS. Condolences. I never knew of his heroism until I read his obit.
Ron Kuntz
November 2, 2014
It is with great sadness that I am writing. You have my prayers and sympathy. I served under John in 1967 and 68 at Castle. What a man.
October 29, 2014
Mr Marcotte, you were always the guy in the pew with the Fighting Irish jacket, I too being a Notre Dame fan did not miss that. You and your wife always were at 0700 Mass as were my parents and I. I will salute you as I did when you left each Mass, with honor and respect. You will and are missed already. I pray your family receives Gods comfort and peace in knowing that you are again soaring, albeit this time you are soaring with the angels. I also pray that God has already accepted you into His squadron of angels, ready to scramble a sortie at His behest and impart His loving and blessings upon those of us who have not yet made that spectacular leap from this earthly existence to that of a heavenly one. Thank you for the kind smiles and the never ending faith you showed to everyone around you.
Bob Kincaid
October 28, 2014
Col. Marcotte was my first Squadron Commander. The first Colonel I had ever had any contact with. I was just out of Tech School and was assigned to the 456th from 66-68. I only wished that all the officers I had encountered over th next 26 years kind, generous and thoughtful as he was. His life experiences made him one of a kind. Rest in peace sir I salute you.
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Jerry Holland
October 27, 2014
Another hero gone. RIP, sir.
October 27, 2014
DEAR GINNIE,
SORRY TO HEAR OF YOUR LOSS. IT BROUGHT BACK MEMORIES OF ALL THE FUN WE HAD WHEN WE WERE IN JOHN'S SQUADRON. POOL PARTYS AND ALL. [1964 -1966] . LOVE PAT AND PJ GILLESPIE
Jolene Schadler
October 27, 2014
Ginnie, I'm so sorry for your loss. May your faith and family provide comfort during the hard times ahead.
Mike and Phyllis Matlock
October 23, 2014
Ginny and all the kids, we have you in our thoughts and prayers. We were blessed with our times together.
Eileen Egan
October 23, 2014
Tim - sending thoughts your way. God's speed.
Steve & Karan Hofmann
October 23, 2014
Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Marcotte family at this difficult time. May you find peace.
October 23, 2014
Tim,
We are so sorry to hear your father has passed. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Your Lockheed friends at Pureland.
October 23, 2014
Tim,
We are so sorry to hear your father has passed. You and your family our in our thoughts and prayers. Lockheed family in Pureland.
Jerry Burns
October 22, 2014
To Col. Marcotte family, wish I could be there. I will light a candle and place his name in the prayer book of the dead.
Colonel Marcotte was my Commander at Castle AFB in 1967-68. I was the squadron soft ball coach at that time and Col. Marcotte was our catcher along with Steve Keesey. We also took the base championship from SAC, he really like that.. We had a lot of good times in the 456th.
He loved flying the F-106. One time we were having engine trouble with one of our birds. I asked the Col. to take her up 40,000 ft and shut down the engine and do an air start. I could not simulate that kind of start on the trim pad. He said, SURE. And that was the way he was.
GREAT GUY AND GREAT COMMANDER.
Thank you again,
Jerry Burns
Engine Mech 456 FIS
Patrick Perry
October 22, 2014
In 1966-68 John was our Squadron Commander and a father figure for many of us 18-20 year olds who joined the 456th at that time. He was a demanding leader and made sure we learned from our mistakes as new airmen. When 4 of us created the 456th FIS Alumni Committee in 2001, we recruited John to help us find former members and to raise money to obtain an F-106 aircraft for Castle Air Museum. In 2003 the restored F-106 was dedicated at CAM. When John saw his name on the nose wheel door there were tears in his eyes. This was our tribute to a man we loved and a member of the “Greatest Generation”.
October 22, 2014
Ginny and all of John's family, I only met John twice when he was in Merced Hospital. From his conversation with my wife Sandy and myself- you had one "hell of a great Man" .. Big John, the tower says "you are cleared for take off".... God Bless and God Speed my friend..... The Old Sarge, aka Jim and Sandy Gier
Stratford Evans Funeral Chapel
October 21, 2014
Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.
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