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Friends we will miss Major William "Bill" Johnson, US Marine Corps (retired) was born May 6, 1922, and was called home to be with our Lord on September 3, 2020. His wife of 49 years, Jacqueline Johnson, and daughter Nancy Roberts were by his side. During WWII and the Korean War, Bill defended our country as a Marine Corps fighter pilot stationed at sea in the Pacific. He had duty on various aircraft carriers including USS Ticonderoga and the Coral Sea. Bill received many awards including Medal of Honor, the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal and the Bronze Star. The US government agency, FAA, issued a certificate stating Bill was certified as a commercial, single engine and multi-engine aircraft pilot. Bill was an active member of the Marine Corps Squadron VMA 121. Twenty years ago, Bill and Jacqueline moved from Sedona, Arizona to beautiful Sun Lakes, meeting many new friends and enjoying wonderful neighbors. Bill was an avid golfer and enjoyed being a member of the Men's Golf Club. In Bill's lifetime, he had four holes in one. During the past two years, Bill needed medical care and was a patient at the Cherry Valley Health Care. Under the administrator Mr. Anthony Lopez, he received wonderful care. All departments had personnel who were efficient, devoted, and caring. He was preceded in death by his loving parents Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Johnson, sisters Doris Eineckee and Lenore Retzke. Bill leaves son William J. Johnson, daughter Nancy Roberts, grandson Aaron Buckner, six grandchildren Kayla, Nathan, Ashley, Maddy, Trevor, and Payton; brother Robert L. Johnson and his family. Bill will be missed by his loving family and friends. Until we meet again, fly high. Donald Clair Bruch was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin on July 11, 1931 and died in his Sun Lakes home on September 1, 2021. He is predeceased by his parents, Carl and Elizabeth Bruch (née Jacobson), and his three siblings, Carl, Judy Zemanick, and Patrick. He is survived by his wife Patricia Scott and his two children from a previous marriage, Thomas Bruch of Phoenix, Arizona and Lauren Bruch-Rakiewicz and son- in-law Richard Rakiewicz of San Diego, California, and sister and brother-in-law, Janet and Ron Nimer, of Ballwin, Missouri. Donald graduated magna cum laude from the University of Wisconsin, earning a Bachelors and Masters in Business Administration. He was in ROTC and served in the Army for two years during The Korean War. His career as a CPA took him to Khartoum and as Office Manager in law firms in Chicago, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. Donald was a loyal member of St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Church in Banning and Beaumont and faithfully attended mass every week even when traveling. He enjoyed the Beaumont Library and came home every week with several books, reading several simultaneously. He was very disciplined about getting to the Sun Lakes gym and had a group of friends he regularly met there. Hemmerling Elementary School brought him great joy until COVID stopped in-person classes. For many years he volunteered in a reading program and later in a kindergarten class each year as a support for the teacher and a friend to the students. He was often a quiet, dependable playground companion for those who needed a friend to stand next to during recess. He often commented that it wasn't possible to be unhappy when spending time with five- and six-year-olds who were just at the beginning of their lives. We will never forget his loving heart and the love he had for his children and wife, his bright blue eyes, his discipline in making sure his obligations were met, and the great joy he derived from the kids and teachers at Hemmerling. Submit your Friends we will miss to sunlakesnews@yahoo.com 68 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | OCTOBER 2021 |