John Jocham

John Jocham, Jr., age 83, passed away Sunday, February 24, 2008 at the Aleda E. Lutz V.A. Hospital in Saginaw. He was born on May 23, 1924 in Pensylvania, the son of the late John & Louise (Schmidt) Jocham. John joined the U.S. Army in March of 1943, and was severely wounded in Italy on November 3, 1944, earning a Purple Heart with an Oak Leaf Cluster. He then received his M.A. from Michigan State University in Agriculture and Education. John taught in Clare, Unionville, Almont and Erie before starting a tile business in 1964. John served as the Clifford Village Clerk, Township Supervisor for Koylton Township, and spent ten years as the Executive Secretary for the Michigan Chapter of the Land Improvement Contractors of America. For many years he prepared income tax forms for various area farmers. He was a life member of the Michigan Education Association, a member of the Disabled American Veterans and the Caro American Legion Post #7. John is survived by his wife, Joan; two sons, one daughter and their spouses, Laurence & Ruthann Jocham of Caro, John A. & Mary Jocham of Clifford, Sandra & Tom Edwards of Imlay City; eight stepchildren and their spouses, Stan & Kari Andrakowicz II of Rancho Santa Mary, California, Kathleen & Alan Janke of Caro, Juliane Gettel of Bad Axe, Maureen & Steve Hunt of Swartz Creek, Cheryl Pennington of Orange, California, Elaine Fielder of Irvine, California, Denise & Marty Benda of Edmonds, Washington, Laurie Jean & Roger Yedinak of Prescott, Arizona; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; twenty-two step-grandchildren; fifteen step-great-grandchildren; a brother, Carl Jocham; sister Darlene & Gary Miller and several nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his wife Bernice (Stephens) Jocham; daughter, Diane Jocham; brothers Paul and Frank Jocham; stepson, Daniel Andrakowicz and step-granddaughter, Marsha Fielder.