Lt. Col. John Mach (Ret.)

Lt. Col. John Mach, (Ret.), 60, died at home August 19th after a long struggle with brain cancer. Born June 5, 1954, in Chicago, raised in El Paso, he graduated from the University of Florida, playing football for his beloved Gators. His true love was the Army, retiring after 29 years, 22 active duty. Overseas tours included Korea and Germany, where he watched history being made when the Berlin Wall came down. His favorite aspect of the Army was being with his men in the field in tanks for weeks. While in the Army John enjoyed two great loves, physical fitness and flying, working out hard weekly at Warren AFB Gym. He achieved his pilot's license at Sheppard AFB in September 1991. He became a Certified Flight Instructor and taught aeronautics at University of North Dakota. John's love of flying began with an Aeronca Champ, a German Bucker aerobatic biplane and then building and eventually flying a Murphy Rebel he first flew in 2005. His last plane was a 172 Cessna. After working in the Pentagon, John's last assignment was Liaison to the Adjutant General of the Wyoming Army National Guard where he met his wife, Renée Middleton. John and Renée had just celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary. They lived notching another sunrise to sunset, which was the goal of their doctors for the past three years. He loved his two nieces, Monica and Keely Middleton, and Renée's family that he adopted as his own acknowledging he hadn't had grandmothers before. He is also survived by Dorothy Middleton Owens, Doug Owens, and Karolyn Middleton (Mrs. Ralph). Feline children, Sadie and Molly are already missing him. Services will be 3:00 p.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church. Donations may be made to Cheyenne Animal Shelter or Cheyenne Botanic Gardens.

Service

Friday, August 22, 2014 3:00pm

Trinity Lutheran Church

1111 E. 22nd St.

CHEYENNE, WY 82001