John Oakes

John Oakes was born March 3, 1919 in Dayton, Ohio, the eldest son of John and Dora (Justice) Oakes. His childhood was spent in the Ohio River Valley, where he developed a life long love of nature. He and his younger brother French spent most of their time in the woods of W. Virginia and swimming in the Tug river. It was in the woods that John encountered the hobos, who taught him to ride the rails. Not long after graduating high school in 1937, John took his first job as a machinist in the navy shipyards where he worked on the driveshafts for the USS Alabama. Upon joining the army, John was sent to Lincoln, Nebraska. One afternoon, the soldiers were invited to a picnic at Pioneer Park. It began to rain and John was invited to the home of Eleanore Hessheimer to eat instead. John always said that he knew the moment he laid eyes on Eleanore that she was the one for him. The two were married just months before John was shipped out to India in 1942. John spent the next several years as an MP in Misamara, at the base of the Himalayan Mountains. He was honorably discharged in 1945. After the war, John made his home with Eleanore in Lincoln, where they raised their two children, John Emery and Melissa. He enrolled at the University of Nebraska, and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 1950. John went on to teach middle school science in the Lincoln Public School District for 33 years, retiring in 1983. Together, John and Eleanor led a full life - they loved to travel, dance, and play bells in the church choir. John continued to teach, teaching sign language classes at the Lincoln Senior Center and tended his large garden. Eleanore preceded him in death on November 12, 2003. That same day, John accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. John moved to Omaha shortly after that day, and made his home there for the past 11 years. John had a true thirst for knowledge, and never stopped reading and learning. His apartment was filled with books, and he spent much of his time reading Louis L’amour books and his collections of poetry. In 2004, he joined Bible Study Fellowship and continued to study the Word through this last year. He was also an incredibly creative man who made toys for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and loved to make banana bread and popcorn to share with his family and friends at Lakeside Village. He will be fondly remembered as a strong and hardworking man who was able, by the grace of God, to overcome every obstacle life threw at him. He will leave a legacy of wonderful memories and love. John went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Saturday, June 20, 2015 at Lakeside Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska. John is survived by his daughter Melissa (David) Rosacker of Omaha, son John (Richie) Oakes of Mobile, AL, 4 granddaughters: Emily (Peter) Buhr, Sarah (Brock) Borhart, Marissa (Don) Barber, Kristin (Mike) Tomlinson, and 10 great grandchildren: Anna, Daniel, Jesse, Caleb, Joel, Elsie, Stella, Chloe, Shep, and Julip. John Oakes, age 96 of Omaha, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ June 20, 2015. Preceded in death by wife Eleanore Oakes. Survived by daughter Melissa (David) Rosacker of Omaha, son John (Richie) Oakes of Mobile, AL, 4 granddaughters: Emily (Peter) Buhr, Sarah (Brock) Borhart, Marissa (Don) Barber, Kristin (Mike) Tomlinson, 10 great grandchildren. John served as an MP in the Army during WWII in Burma, India, retired after 33 years as middle school science teacher in the Lincoln Public School System, and has lived the past 11 years at Lakeside Immanuel community. Celebration of Life services Friday, June 26, at 10 AM, The Lighthouse Chapel at Lakeside Immanuel Retirement Community, 17600 Arbor St. Omaha, NE. No visitation. Private interment. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Wounded Warrior Project.

John Oakes

March 3, 1919 - June 20, 2015