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Dad's adventures
Dad's uncle Claude (on his mother's side, I think) prospected for minerals including gold all throughout the Black Hills. He left the area for a few months, leaving John's dad, John J., the care of a case of dynamite. John J. buried it in a field near the garage/shop for safekeeping. It didn't take John and Keith long to find it. They made regular trips to collect a stick, fuse and blasting cap - enjoying an afternoon blowing boulders and stumps out of the ground outside of town.
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My Sailing Friend
I met John in October of 1991 while I was attending a Coastguard Auxiliary Boating Skills and Seamanship course in Waterford Township. John was one of the instructors and was teaching the navigational section of the course. While attending the course, John asked me if I would like to go sailing with him on Lake Saint Clair sometime and learn how to sail. I accepted the offer and the next thing you know is that we were going quite often. One time he even took my parents with us. Being out on the water was such a sense of peacefulness and I could tell that John was very much in his element with that tiller in his hand. What I remember about John the most was his pure kindness and knowledge of so many things. In fact, he even built his sailboat that we sailed on. He accomplished so much in his lifetime. He was one smart man and a giving man. I will miss him dearly and I think of him often when I go out fishing on Lake Saint Clair. I remember all the time he spent with me teaching me how to sail and navigate on the open water. John, I will miss you dearly, Your Sailing Buddy Douglas.
I would also like to convey my deepest sympathy and condolence to the family of John and may God keep you all strong for one another during this sad time and may you keep John's spirit alive with fond memories of him.
With Deepest Sympathy and Condolence,
Douglas M. Ferich
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early memories of big brother John
My condolences to John and Bobby and all of their faimilies. Thank you for making this web page to share pictures, memories, and stories about John. John was always so willing to share his knowledge and experiences with his brothers and the rest of his family.
When the family lived in Miller his brother Keith and John were repairing an old car including a rebuild of the engine. To the later shigrin of Mom and Dad, they hauled the engine to thier room, upstairs in the house. Being a good little sister, maybe about 3 at the time, I helped carry all the little parts. They had the engine rebuilt and put together before Mom and Dad found out.
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a good memory of Uncle John
It was probably when John and family visited SD and the Weyrich farm in 1986. We were busy going about the business of farming which included keeping various equipment running. We had an old truck that was a sort of "transformer" that we used to pile hay in the fields. It wasn't running real well and so Uncle John opened up the hood requested a few simple tools including a screwdriver. In no time at all had the carburetor adjusted and the engine purring like a kitten. I was certainly impressed with this quick fix, but even more so that it was on a FORD engine. He said, 'no problem, this is such and such a design and they have these problems etc. I enjoyed the perspective and his sharing his knowledge and just jumping in there. I always knew he was a special guy and I was glad to get at least a little glimpse of this truly great man.
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