John “Jack” William Whitehead Jr.

John was born Dec. 1, 1935, in Dunkirk, N.Y. A lifelong resident of Dunkirk, John graduated from Dunkirk High School and attended Devry Technical School. Upon his graduation he worked as a telephone technician at New York Telephone and AT&T until his retirement in 1990. John also served in the U.S. Army National Guard for six years from 1958-64. A lifetime Mason of the Irondequoit lodge 301, he also was very involved in the Fredonia Grange for many years as both treasurer and executive committee member and received the Mildred Kesby Memorial Key Award for his many hours of service in devotedly administering accounts and maintaining the Grange Hall.

Pursing his passion of airplanes, John acquired his private pilot’s license and served in the Dunkirk Civil Air Patrol for 15 years. Traveling to Oshkosh Air show and Forums with his wife Mary, he learned more about the building and operating of aircrafts for many years. Along with his passion of airplanes John also found much joy in building and fixing things. He built with his father a cottage on Chautauqua Lake and later built his and Mary’s home from the ground up in 1959 finishing in 1964, these being only a couple of his shining achievements. Known as “Mr. Fix it” he taught not only his grandchildren to measure twice, cut once. But also spent many hours working side by side with his son-in-law, Tom on various projects both big and small. John loved his family and friends and enjoyed helping the ones he loved.

John is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary (Nosky) Whitehead; his two daughters: Debbi Whitehead (Louis Villalobos) of Maryland and Barb Thompson (Thomas) of Dunkirk; his three grand- children: Kenna Thompson of Dunkirk, Shanna Thompson of Kentucky and Ryan Villalobos of Virginia; and beloved nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Ethel (Helwig) Whitehead Sr.; sister, Carole (Whitehead) Hudson; and brother- in-law, Charles “Chuck” Hudson.

Friends may call on Friday, June 4, from 2- 4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at the McGraw-Kowal Funeral Home, where a Masonic service will be held at 3:30 p.m.

Funeral and military honors services will be held Saturday, June 5, at 11 a.m., from St. John’s United Church of Christ, 733 Central Ave., Dunkirk, N.Y. (entrance on Eagle). Pastor Zoe Milliman will officiate. Followed by burial at Willowbrook Park Cemetery in Dunkirk. Family and friends are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to St. John’s United Church of Christ in John’s memory.