John Willard

In Loving Memory

John Willard

John Willard Jr., 84, died on the morning of September 13th at Fort Meade Hospice Facility in Sturgis, South Dakota. John was born on December 20, 1940, to John Sr. and Gwen (Drake) Willard in Layfette, Indiana. John attended school at the Rockerville, South Dakota, one room schoolhouse and eventually attended Rapid City High School. He joined the US Navy and shipped out on his 17th birthday. John met his lifelong partner and wife Linda Savoy in 1961. They were married in May of 1964 and remained married until his death.

John was forever proud of his time in the US Navy, during which time he served on two ships. Each one played a role in Cold War policies of the day. His first ship, the U.S.S. Aeolus was involved in the installation of the Sound Surveillance System and other defense cable projects. The system and name were at the time classified with the unclassified name Project Caesar being given to the installation and support of the system. He transferred to the U.S.S. Glacier for Operation Deep Freeze 5 in 1959, most of which was spent in breaking a 21-nautical-mile (39 km; 24 mi) channel through McMurdo Sound to open the way for supply ships. The ship and its crew received the U.S. Navy Unit Commendation for action during a Bellingshausen Sea expedition.

After his time in the Navy, John attended Watertown Aviation Mechanics School, graduating in October of 1966 after which he and Linda moved to Minneapolis where he served as a mechanic for Northwest Airlines. Both of their children were born during their time in Minneapolis.

When Rapid City was devastated by the 1972 flood John and Linda returned home to check on family and friends. John was offered a job during this trip, and they moved back to Rapid City in fall of 1972 where they raised their children and lived out their remaining years.

John was an avid hunter and fisherman and an active member of the local Masonic Lodge and a Shriner clown. John also drove the bus from Rapid City to Minneapolis transporting local children to the Shriner's Twin Cities Hospital.

Preceding him in death were his parents and younger brother Bill Willard. Surviving are his wife Linda, his son John III, and his daughter Kristi.

John's memorial service is set for Friday, October 10 at 10:30am at Knollwood Heights United Methodist Church, Rapid City. A visitation will be held the night before, on October 9, at Kirk Funeral Home from 4-6:00pm.