John Paul Bogumill

John was born in Rib Lake Wisconsin to Peter and Clara Bogumill on February 23, 1932. He grew up in Rib Lake Wisconsin. John served in the United States Air Force where he was a prop mechanic in Okinawa during the Korean War. He graduated from the University of Southern California Los Angeles with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics in 1961. He married Avis Kohn on January 20, 1962 in Los Angeles while it snowed for the first time in 100 years. He and Avis moved to Washington D.C. where he then went to work for the United States Government. He started in the Department of Labor, before moving on to the Department of Agriculture where he worked as the assistant attaché in Kinshasa Zaire. He then worked in the Department of Commerce. He was the head of the Census in Baltimore. John spoke seven languages fluently by the time he retired in 1988.

John and Avis had three boys, Mark, John and Matthew. They lived in Greenbelt, and then Columbia Maryland where the boys all played soccer and graduated from High School. John became a youth soccer coach. He coached teams which travelled the east coast and Canada. John planned family vacations every year and often included European countries like Scotland, England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. He led the family on a hike of the Appalachian trail. He took them white water rafting, deep sea fishing, scuba diving and to air shows.

In retirement John and Avis attended the Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio. They both graduated with a Master’s degree in Theology in 1993. They served in a church in Estancia New Mexico before moving to Chandler Arizona in 1994. John then served at St. Anne’s church and was the social concerns Coordinator at Christ the King church in Mesa, Arizona.

John is preceded in death by his parents, brother Peter “Bud”, and two sisters Betty and Florence “Pat”. He is survived by his wife, Avis and three sons, Mark, John, and Matthew. He is also survived by his thirteen grandchildren; Mia, Stephen, Meredith, Samuel, Seth, John Anthony, Joshua, Michael, Gwen, Maria, Lily, Zoe, and Max. John had four great-grandchildren; Myla, Calin, Vinyl, and Elaina.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital ( www.stjude.org/give/memorials-and-dedications.html ) or Virtue Media ( https://virtuemedia.org/support/ ).

A viewing will be held Monday September 30 5 to 9p.m. with a Rosary at 7p.m. at Valley of the Sun Mortuary, 10940 E Chandler Heights Road, Chandler, AZ. A Mass will be held Tuesday October 1 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Anne’s Catholic Church, 440 E. Elliot Road, Gilbert, Arizona. A graveside service and burial will be conducted on Friday October 4 at 2:00 p.m. in Rib Lake, Wisconsin.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18