John Schloss

John Stanley Schloss, 77, of Mountain Home, passed away peacefully on Jan. 29, 2014.

A celebration of his life will be held at 1 p.m., on Wednesday, Feb. 5, t Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel, with inurnment immediately following at Mountain View Cemetery.

John was born Aug. 25, 1936, in Los Angeles, Calif., to Mary and William Schloss. After graduating from Washington High School in 1954, John went to work at the North American Aviation Company until enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in August 1958.

After completing basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas, his first assignment was to Lowry AFB in Colorado. In December 1958, he was assigned to the 21st Armament and Electronics Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan, and in January 1961 he was assigned to Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, where he met his beloved future wife to be of 52 years, Ann.

In March of 1963, he was assigned to Etain AB, France. He was appointed to the Loading Standardization Team and promoted to staff sergeant in June 1963. He gained experience as a munitions controller when he was assigned to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, in September 1963.

In July of 1964, he was assigned to the 408th Munitions Maintenance Squadron at George AFB, Calif. In June 1965, he was promoted to technical sergeant.

He was deployed to Ubon TRAFB, Thailand in December 1965 until September 1966, where he was assigned to the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing.

John received his first Air Force Commendation Medal for his part in the top secret "special missions" for the Studies and Observations Group, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam.

Upon completion of his tour in Thailand in November 1966, he received an oak leaf cluster to the Air Force Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service.

From September 1966 until August 1968, he was assigned to Cannon AFB, during which time he was promoted to the rank of master sergeant in November of 1967.

From August 1968 through June 1970, John performed a tour of duty in both Tainan and Taipei AB, Taiwan. John was then transferred to Myrtle Beach AFB, S.C., from June 1970 to August 1971.

In December 1970, he obtained the rank of senior master sergeant.

He was re-stationed in Vietnam from August of 1971 through August 1972.

He then returned to Cannon AFB in August of 1972, where he attained the ultimate enlisted rank of chief master sergeant in September 1974.

John was then transferred from Cannon to Nellis AFB from May 1975 to February 1977.

John's next journey took him to Upper Heyford RAF, England, from February 1977 to February 1979. His next transfers took him to Nellis AFB from February 1979 to September 1980 and back to Mountain Home from September 1980 to May of 1982.

John's next assignment in his military career took him to Ramstein AB, Germany, from May 1982 to March 1984.

John was offered and accepted the position of senior enlisted advisor at Zweibrucken AB, Germany, from March 1984 to March 1985.

John's final assignment in his extensive and proud military career was at Mountain Home from March 1985 to September 1986.

In September 1986, he retired in Mountain Home, the place he considered "home."

John loved the outdoors and was an avid fisherman and hunter.

He was actively involved with Special Olympics, volunteering his time and heart in the various locations he was stationed throughout the world.

John is survived by: his wife of 52 years, Ann; son David and his partner, Kevin; daughter Debra and her husband, Fred; daughter Sherry and son Raymond; five grandchildren, John, Anna, Ryan, Andrew and Elizabeth; seven great-grandchildren, Johnathon, Destiny, Sydnee, Caleb, Abigail, Joshua and Aiden.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary and William Schloss, and brothers Richard and William Schloss Jr.

John was deeply loved by his family and all those who he touched during his lifetime.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org/Donate.