John K. Eschbach Jr.

John K. Eschbach, Jr., 77, of Rochester Hills, MI, and Palm Desert, CA, passed away peacefully at home on May 30th, 2025. He was born on June 24, 1947, in Tyrone, Pennsylvania. He was the son of John Kenneth Sr. and Ethel May (Kerlin). He graduated from Tyrone High School in 1965 and was known for riding with his Vespa scooter gang, and was a member of Tyrone Christ United Methodist Church.

John was a proud United States Air Force veteran, serving from 1966 to 1972. After completing basic training, he attended Technical School at Sheppard Air Force Base. He was then stationed at Selfridge Air Force Base, where he served as an Aerospace Medical Technician. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant. In recognition of his marksmanship skills, he was awarded the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters.

John met the love of his life, Roberta (Bobbie) M. (Powers), while they both worked night shifts at Mount Clemens Hospital. They were married for over 50 years.

A licensed private pilot, John was a lifelong member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and member of the Palm Springs Air Museum, reflecting his passion for aviation. He especially enjoyed flying Cessna 150 and 172 aircraft over the skies of MI and PA, as reflected in his flight logs.

As a private pilot, John coordinated air ambulance service for aeromedical transportation. He began working for Suburban Medical and Oxygen Supplies in Royal Oak, eventually establishing his first home just across the alley from the office. In 1979, he purchased Suburban Ambulance and served as General Manager, growing the company from 22 employees and 5 ambulances to over 475 employees and 50 ambulances by the time he sold the business in 1995. During the 1980s and early 1990s, John served as President of Paramed, Inc., a medical transportation corporation encompassing Fleet Ambulance, Suburban Ambulance, Riverside EMS, and Ambu-Trans, Inc., with headquarters in Bloomfield Hills.

With an adventurous spirit, John embraced life to the fullest. Over the years, he owned and operated hot air balloons—including his After Dinner Mint—as well as jet skis, boats, snowmobiles, campers, and dune buggies. A fan of Formula One racing, he attended every Detroit Grand Prix from 1982 to 1991. He also took great pride in his 1982 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Indy Pace Car replica, admired for its distinctive silver and blue paint scheme.

In 1986, John and his family moved to Rochester Hills, where he installed a backyard pool and transformed the basement into a space for lively gatherings with friends and family. He was a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Rochester, Michigan.

Following his retirement, John and his beloved wife, Roberta, traveled extensively, enjoying more than 100 cruises together. During his life, he found joy in preparing gourmet soups, dining at fine restaurants, savoring red wine, attending air shows, and spending winters in Southern California. Later in his life, he was a stroke survivor. Known for his quiet generosity, John often offered financial help to others during difficult times. He will be remembered for his generous spirit and giving heart.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Bobbie; daughter, Cheryl Eschbach; son, Bryan K. Eschbach (Heather); and three grandsons: Gabriel, Aedhan, and Liam. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Carol Jean.

A Celebration of Life for John will be announced at a later date.