IN LOVING MEMORY OF
John "Jack"
L. Long
July 17, 1922 – January 21, 2012
Obituary
John "Jack" Lawrence Long, 89, of Sterling, passed away Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Sterling, surrounded by his loving family. Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, at Chaney-Reager Funeral Home. Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24, at Christ United Methodist Church. Interment will be at Riverton, Wyo.
Jack was born in Crosby, Wyo., on July 17, 1922, to John and Anna (Bretthauer) Long. Jack was the second child of four. They moved to Riverton, Wyo., in 1932. He graduated from Riverton High School in May of 1941, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy.
He returned from World War II in 1946 and married the love of his life, Mildred Katherine Willman on July 2, 1946, at the Missouri Valley Church.
Shortly after enlistment in the Navy he was sent to boot camp in September of 1941 at Alameda Naval Base, Calif., and Naval Ordinance school in San Diego, Calif., to serve his country. He was assigned to Pearl Harbor after it was bombed to help repair the airfields and bases. In March 1942 he was assigned to the USS Enterprise CV-6 until May 14, 1945, when it was struck by kamikaze planes and forced to return to Bremerton, Wash., for repairs. Jack was then transferred to the East Coast and assigned to the USS Kearsarge as a chief petty officer in Ordinance, until his honorable discharge in April of 1946.
He was injured several times during battle, which affected him many times throughout his life and eventually forced him to become 100 percent disabled. He served on the Enterprise during 17 battles from the Doolittle Raid to Okinawa. He was awarded the Navy/Marine Corp Medal -- for Bravery, Victory Medal, American Defense, Philippine Defense, Navy Good Conduct, American Campaign, WWII Occupational and Marine Overseas Asiatic Pacific Campaign, and was promoted to Chief Petty Officer one month before his 22nd birthday. He never bragged or would openly admit it, but this type of honor was very rare in the Navy for a person of his age and experience.
During his life, Jack endured many hardships, but never let them stop him from achieving success. Post-Navy, he worked and lived at the Beaver Creek oilfield as a pumper, farmed for 15 years in Missouri Valley, owned the Wagonhound Ranch near Hamilton Dome and receive the Outstanding Young Farmer award in 1959, for Fremont County, Wyo.
In 1965, he enrolled at the University of Wyoming Business College, starting a career in banking in Colorado and Wyoming, also getting his appraiser and real estate licenses for both states. During his career he earned the respect of many in the business community and made several lifelong friends.
Jack was a lifetime member of VFW, chapter member of DAV, Lions Club, Rotary Club, Greeley Chamber of Commerce, Weld County Agriculture Chairman and Fair Board member. He was also a member of University of Wyoming Quarterback Club and attended several USS Enterprise reunions.
He is survived by his wife, Mildred K. Long; daughter, Jennifer Long of Sterling and her children, David and Buffy of Dalton, Neb., and sons, Broc, Davis, Rhett and Kort Dye, Anne and Griffith Kull III of Windsor and their children, Griffith IV, and Annalyssa; son, Dan Long and wife Sherrie of Sterling, and their children, Justin and Kristen Boxberger and their children, Lydia and Mitchell, all of Sterling, Josh and Cara Boxberger of Brighton, Megan and Daniel Schell and son Braxton, and Brittany Long of Sterling; son, Ed Long and wife Vicky of Riverton, Wyo., and their children, Justin and Corinna and their children, Tegan, Jayden and Kaitlin, Shelby and Shannon Shepherd and their children, Paige, Coltin and Dani, all of Riverton; son, Jim Long of Sterling and his children, Ryan and Michelle Long, and their children, Madison, Chase and Jack of Sterling, Jeff and Michelle Long and children, Bryson, Aubree and Mason of Peetz, and Kristy Long of Sterling; sisters, June Wheeler of Casper, Wyo., Betty Hamilton of Palistine, Texas; and brother, Robert Long of Riverton; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family; friends, Vince Folladori and Jim Koester.
Jack was preceded in death by his mother and father; and great-grandson, Jayden Nicolas Long.
Memorials may be made to U.S.S. Enterprise CV-6 Memorial or to Christ United Methodist Church.
Jack was born in Crosby, Wyo., on July 17, 1922, to John and Anna (Bretthauer) Long. Jack was the second child of four. They moved to Riverton, Wyo., in 1932. He graduated from Riverton High School in May of 1941, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy.
He returned from World War II in 1946 and married the love of his life, Mildred Katherine Willman on July 2, 1946, at the Missouri Valley Church.
Shortly after enlistment in the Navy he was sent to boot camp in September of 1941 at Alameda Naval Base, Calif., and Naval Ordinance school in San Diego, Calif., to serve his country. He was assigned to Pearl Harbor after it was bombed to help repair the airfields and bases. In March 1942 he was assigned to the USS Enterprise CV-6 until May 14, 1945, when it was struck by kamikaze planes and forced to return to Bremerton, Wash., for repairs. Jack was then transferred to the East Coast and assigned to the USS Kearsarge as a chief petty officer in Ordinance, until his honorable discharge in April of 1946.
He was injured several times during battle, which affected him many times throughout his life and eventually forced him to become 100 percent disabled. He served on the Enterprise during 17 battles from the Doolittle Raid to Okinawa. He was awarded the Navy/Marine Corp Medal -- for Bravery, Victory Medal, American Defense, Philippine Defense, Navy Good Conduct, American Campaign, WWII Occupational and Marine Overseas Asiatic Pacific Campaign, and was promoted to Chief Petty Officer one month before his 22nd birthday. He never bragged or would openly admit it, but this type of honor was very rare in the Navy for a person of his age and experience.
During his life, Jack endured many hardships, but never let them stop him from achieving success. Post-Navy, he worked and lived at the Beaver Creek oilfield as a pumper, farmed for 15 years in Missouri Valley, owned the Wagonhound Ranch near Hamilton Dome and receive the Outstanding Young Farmer award in 1959, for Fremont County, Wyo.
In 1965, he enrolled at the University of Wyoming Business College, starting a career in banking in Colorado and Wyoming, also getting his appraiser and real estate licenses for both states. During his career he earned the respect of many in the business community and made several lifelong friends.
Jack was a lifetime member of VFW, chapter member of DAV, Lions Club, Rotary Club, Greeley Chamber of Commerce, Weld County Agriculture Chairman and Fair Board member. He was also a member of University of Wyoming Quarterback Club and attended several USS Enterprise reunions.
He is survived by his wife, Mildred K. Long; daughter, Jennifer Long of Sterling and her children, David and Buffy of Dalton, Neb., and sons, Broc, Davis, Rhett and Kort Dye, Anne and Griffith Kull III of Windsor and their children, Griffith IV, and Annalyssa; son, Dan Long and wife Sherrie of Sterling, and their children, Justin and Kristen Boxberger and their children, Lydia and Mitchell, all of Sterling, Josh and Cara Boxberger of Brighton, Megan and Daniel Schell and son Braxton, and Brittany Long of Sterling; son, Ed Long and wife Vicky of Riverton, Wyo., and their children, Justin and Corinna and their children, Tegan, Jayden and Kaitlin, Shelby and Shannon Shepherd and their children, Paige, Coltin and Dani, all of Riverton; son, Jim Long of Sterling and his children, Ryan and Michelle Long, and their children, Madison, Chase and Jack of Sterling, Jeff and Michelle Long and children, Bryson, Aubree and Mason of Peetz, and Kristy Long of Sterling; sisters, June Wheeler of Casper, Wyo., Betty Hamilton of Palistine, Texas; and brother, Robert Long of Riverton; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family; friends, Vince Folladori and Jim Koester.
Jack was preceded in death by his mother and father; and great-grandson, Jayden Nicolas Long.
Memorials may be made to U.S.S. Enterprise CV-6 Memorial or to Christ United Methodist Church.
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