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Lieutenant Colonel John Kenneth Furrer, Ret.
January 19, 1924 - May 29, 2011
Kenneth Furrer obit pic
John “Jack”, formerly of Woodbridge in Manteca, California, passed away peacefully with his youngest daughter, Nannette Furrer, by his side at the age of 97. His eldest daughter, Claudette Conklin, spoke to him on the phone from Texas. The love of his life, Georgianna Patricia House Furrer (Georgie) passed away in 2017 after 68 years of marriage.
   He was the last living sibling of seven children born to Irene Theil Furrer and Robert Walter Furrer on January 19, 1924.
   He will be missed by those he leaves behind, his daughter, Claudette Conklin, son-in-law, Michael Conklin, Mike’s daughters, Andrea and Deanna, his grandson, Chase, and his wife, Emily. Also missing Jack is his daughter, Nannette Furrer, his grandson, Grey, and all of his friends, nieces and nephews, who loved and respected him.
   Jack loved to play basketball as a young man and had a love/hate relationship with golf in his later years. He also enjoyed telling a good joke, he was a 49er faithful, helped out at his girls’ high school events, played a wicked game of poker, and couldn’t resist checking out the new cars every year.  He served in the Army Air Corps, later known as the U.S. Air Force, as a pilot during World War II. He was only 20-years-old when he became a Squadron Commander, based at Thorpe Abbotts, England.
   Lt. Furrer was with the 349th Squadron, 100th Bomb Group, 3rd Air Division, 8th Air Force. After the war he worked a short time at Household Finance before re-enlisting in the Air Force. He served honorably in the Korean Conflict during the years 1950 through 1953. Among his other duties he was assigned as the personal pilot for General Van Vleet. During the Vietnam Conflict he belonged to the Weather Recon Squadron, flying into the eye of the tropical storms. They became known as the “Typhoon Chasers”.  He received many medals and commendations during his 26 years in the military. The discipline and patriotism he learned in the Air Force never left him, as friends and family will attest.
   Jack will be buried with military honors at Arlington Cemetery within the next 2 years. His beloved wife, Georgie, will be by his side.
   If you wish to make a donation in his name, please make it to The Independence Fund, who supplies all-terrain track wheelchairs to service men and women who have returned from the Middle East with amputations.
Jack has now returned home.

Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin

Saturday, June 19, 2021