John C. Ricker

Born in Portland, Maine, in 1944, John graduated from Deering High School, where he earned letters and participated in various sports.

After high school, John enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1962 and was later commissioned as an Officer in 1963 upon graduating from Officer Candidate School. He completed the Army's Airborne, Ranger, Command and General Staff college courses. John served two tours in Vietnam. During his military career, he received many decorations and seventeen awards for valor and three Purple Hearts. His combat awards include six bronze stars for valor, the Air Medal with three clusters, three Army Commendation Medals for Valor, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, among others. During one of his tours in Vietnam John was awarded the Soldier's Medal, the nation's highest award for courage in a peacetime "non-combat" situation which is awarded to a soldier who voluntarily risks his own life to save others. He extinguished a fire which had severely burned two soldiers in his Company, when a fire broke out in their motor position and the fire endangered the entire camp. He did this with one hand bandaged after being severely wounded and recuperating from an enemy ordinance exploding and injuring him.

Following Vietnam, he was assigned to the United Nations Headquarters in The Republic of Korea among other assignments. He served as the Chairman of Employer Relations for the Employer Support of Guard and Reserve. He retired from active service in 1982, while stationed with the ROTC Instructors Group at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, where he also taught Military History. John was also a trustee of the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial for 10 years.

John earned a Bachelor of Arts from Fairleigh Dickinson University, two Master’s degrees from Seton Hall University and was a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking. Upon retirement from the Army, he became a banker and finished his career as a Wells Fargo Investment Advisor.

John and Patty moved their family to Sparta, NJ in 1972, and became active in many community organizations including the Sparta Kiwanis Club where he was honored as a Life Member, Kiwanis Fellow, Hixson and Tablet of Honor Recipient, a past Distinguished President and a two-time past Lieutenant Governor. He was also involved, in the past, with the Sparta Little League Board of Directors, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sussex County, and the United Way of Sussex County. For many years, John enjoyed breakfast with a close group of friends that met weekly, at a local restaurant.

John was predeceased by his father Clifford and his mother Doris, as well as his sister, Suzanne. John was the devoted patriarch of his family, survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Patricia; a son, Joseph and his wife Frances; his daughter, Catherine and her husband, Patrick McDermott; and his greatest joy, his beloved granddaughter, Carly; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements are under the care of Goble Funeral Home 22 Main St., Sparta, NJ 07871. A military ceremony and internment will be conducted at Arlington National Cemetery and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.