John William Bieger Jr.

Born in Buffalo, NY, to John W. Bieger and Elizabeth Mages Bieger on August 26, 1921, John grew up and started working delivering papers at the age of seven during the Great Depression. After graduating from St. Joseph’s Prep School, he joined the NY National Guard and served in Field Artillery but ended up as a pilot in the US Army Air Corps for the duration of World War II.

While on a mission in a B-17 over France on July 14, 1943, his plane was shot down. John parachuted safely and was picked up by the French resistance, with whom he spent 3 months. He was officially listed as “missing in action” until October, 1943 when he was smuggled across the English Channel in the hold of a boat laden with fish.

Like most veterans who survived World War II, he obeyed orders to tell nothing and kept his harrowing story of adventure and danger to himself for 50 years before beginning to talk about it to his family. A video of his story is archived in the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress for any who wish to go there and see the video of him telling of his hair raising adventures, as well as his many near-death experiences in France. As only twenty-five percent of those who flew on B-17s in World War II in Europe lived to tell their story, John turned out to be a 1st class survivor, a trait that he’d demonstrate repeatedly throughout his life.

Upon returning home to Buffalo for short leave, he married his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth (Betty) Butchart, in January of 1944.

John trained B-17 pilots until he was discharged after the war. Hired by United Airlines in 1946, he served with them for his entire 35 year career, which was also filled with stories of adventure, including once outwitting a hijacker who wanted a trip to Cuba.

John and his wife Betty raised three daughters, in Morristown, NJ, before moving to Fl to enjoy year-round opportunities for swimming, fishing, and all water sports. After a short stay in Coral Gables, and about 10 years in Pompano Beach, John Bieger designed and built the house of his dreams in Boca Raton, which he lived in for the rest of his life. Here, he welcomed friends and family, teaching many people to water ski, snorkel, swim and fish.

Active with the Golden Harbor Yacht Club for many years, and Commodore for one term, he enjoyed his friends and dancing with his wife. He was also a member of the Elks Club for several years.

Widowed after 60 years of marriage in 2008 by the sudden death of his wife, Betty, he achieved his goal of never having to leave the home that he loved, thanks to the care of his loving family, his devoted caregiver, Jean Legister, and Hospice By The Sea, who cared for him from August, 2009 until February, 2012, and again in his final illness.

He passed his love of water sports and fun on to his family. He will be remembered fondly for this, plus for his strong opinions and his ability to outwit cancer in the same astounding fashion that he outwitted a hijacker, proving to be the ultimate survivor, and master of his destiny, right to the end.

He is survived by his daughter Kathleen (Kathy) Bieger Roche and her husband, Michael (Mike) B. Roche, of Califon, NJ, and their three grandchildren, Sarah Ellen Roche of Philadelphia, PA, Jonathan Bieger Roche, of NYC, NY, and Philip Michael Roche and his wife, Maria Regalbuto Roche, and two great grandchildren, Olivia Catherine Roche and Luke Thomas Roche, of Herndon, VA. Roberta (Robin) Bieger Mayrl and her husband, William (Bill) Mayrl of White Fish Bay, WI, and two grandsons, Damon Walter Mayrl and his partner, Luis Barcena of San Francisco, as well as Matthew William Mayrl and his wife, Jennifer Mikulec, and great grandson, Griffin John Mayrl of Boston, MA. His daughter, Susan (Susie) Ritchie and her husband, Richard (Dick) Ritchie, two granddaughters, Amelia Palfy Smith and her husband James Smith of Jacksonville, FL, and Cora Suzanne Palfy, of Chicago, IL.

He is also survived by his brother, Robert M. Bieger of West Seneca NY, and his sisters, Nancy Bieger Norton of Lewes, DE, and Marcella Bieger Ralicki of Arlington, VA, as well as twenty one nieces and nephews and their families.

All who knew him thank him for everything he taught us. We will remember and miss him forever. A Memorial Mass will be held for him on August, 24, 2012 at Saint Jude Catholic Church 21689 Toledo Road, Boca Raton at 10 am time.

Instead of flowers, he’d have preferred to be remembered to organizations dear to his heart:

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center Attn: Sea Trtle Rescue & Rehabilitation 1801 North Ocean Boulevard Boca Raton, FL 33432; www.gumbolimbo.org/

Hospice by the Sea, Inc., Attn: Fund Development, 1531 W. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton, FL 33486; [email protected]

Please also visit these websites:

http://www.kathybiegerroche.com/iweb/blackberryhill/B_17_visit_and_Veteran%27s_History_Project/B-17_visit.html

http://www.kathybiegerroche.com/iweb/blackberryhill/John_Bieger_photos/John_Biegers_life_and_times/John_Biegers_life_and_times.html