Born in 1933 in Chicago, Illinois, passed away peacefully at home on May 1, 2018 surrounded by his loving family. Anyone who knew John was blessed. Always a gentleman, always kind and always ready to assist Donauschwaben researchers in their hunt for their ancestors. He spent over a decade building a Banat family tree; the last I can remember it was over 60,000 names on it. He was almost certain that most Banat researchers would be connected to it and for most he'd provide a connection. Even during the years he dealt with illnesses, he'd bounce back enough to continue on.
John was one of the first supporters of the DVHH in late 2002. He
became the village coordinator for the Banat villages of Grabatz, Nakadorf, Orzydorf, Seultour, and Zichydorf. His daughter Monica helped publish his village sites for many years. John was also one of the DVHH Hungarian Highlands Regional Coordinators, specializing in Schildgebirge Province, Fejer County. When DVHH formed a nonprofit in 2007 we were proud to have John serve as our first Vice President. Words can not express what an honor it was to have known him, someone who earned respect from all who knew him. He's gone but not forgotten. RIP John.
See Family Obituary
John's personal family research:
Hungarian Highlands: Schildebirge, Boglar/Vertesboglar, Kornye, Szar, Vertestesacsa, Kesked, Obergalla, Untergalla, Etyek, VertesKozma
Banat: Zichydorf, Deutsch Stamora, Georghausen, Stefansfeld, Kathreinfeld, Johannisfeld, Iwanda, St. Hubert, Charleville, Seultour/Soltur, Massdorf, Heufeld, Hatzfeld, Nakadorf/Nokova, Lenauheim
Batschka: Kernei
Family Surnames: PATERNAL
Achtzehner, Bayerle, Busch, Blaschkowitz, Borschowa, Christmann, Dominik, Engler, Faul, Froh, Fritz, Fleischhacker, Frass, Heinermann, Henzel, Hipfel, Herold, Hochbein, Horn, Hoff, Kaiser, Kirchner, Maly, Muhlbauer, Molter, Nastfogel, Neidermayer, Neissner, Oberling, Oberle, Ollinger, Pavel, Pereng, Pergel/Pergl, Piller, Poling, Rist, Rompoldt, Schneider, Steinbruckner, Tretter, Untereiner, Viome, Vogel, Vogt, Wagner, Wehner, Wingert, Young/Jung, Zopf/Zoph
Family Surnames: MATERNAL
Achs, Adams, Armschilinger, Armbruster, Chuine, Bogel, Bohn, Bold, Blassmann, Bastian, Erhard/Erhardt, Fend, Felder, Faszl, Koltre/Coltre, Herrmann/Hermann, Hatigs, Heidenfelder, Luthy, Laub, Martin, Marschall, Muschong, Massong, Mazer/Maser, Oberding, Piking, Metz, Peter/Petri, Quitter, Reding, Roth, Sieber, Staud, Simon, Strobel, Stober, Theisz, Turk, Wagner, Walter, Wiener, Weber
Email sent Thu 6/20/2013
Hello Jody
Thank you for your letter. I did not get your letter but that may be because I did have two surgeries. One was last year August and the second was in December. (I omitted his discussion regarding his health issues) In bother cases if I had I not taken care of it, I would not be around here any longer. I am getting better and I hope to get back to research again.
One thing I do regret is not being able to take over the presidency when you asked me to do so. If I get back to my healthy status I, hope in the next five years or so, be able to take that position if it opens up. But we shall see what we see.
Maybe some time if you find some spare time, bring me up to what is happening in the DVHH.
Ich liebe dich,
Schotze
John
~Jody McKim Pharr
