John J. Midura

Ware - John Joseph Midura, 95, of Ware died on Friday, March 6, 2020 at Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke.  He was born October 1, 1924 in Ware, the son of the late Charles and Agata (Bernat) Midura.  He is one of 12 children, being predeceased by all siblings with the exception of his older sister, Katherine who is 98.

John grew up in Ware and attended local schools.  He served his country by enlisting in the Navy on May 3, 1943 until his honorable discharge on February 15, 1946.  He served as a radioman aboard an LST troop carrier.  John served in the Pacific Theatre.  He earned the WWII Victory Medal, the American Theatre Medal, and the Asiatic Pacific Theatre Medal.  During his service time, he kept a notebook to include highlights of his service such as seeing the flag go up at Iwo Jimo or, being the first to receive the news that the Armistice had been signed and having the privilege of relaying this news to the captain.  John described his military experience as one of the best times of his life.  After serving 27 consecutive months at sea without a night on shore, John made it clear he would not board another ship in his life, and he did not.

After his service, John met his sweetheart, Rita Anair at a local dance in Ware, in which he walked her home.  They were married shortly thereafter.  Rita and John had eight children: John, Charles, Michael, Cheryl, Timothy, Peter, Paul and Christopher.

John worked as a salesman for Fuller Brush and Sears selling kitchen appliances.  He loved his work as he loved people and could relate to everyone.  John retired at age 65.

John loved taking his family to their annual 2 week trip to Wells, Maine, where he enjoyed walking the beach and having “corn on the rocks” on the Marginal Way.  After a weekend getaway to Maine in celebration of their anniversary in 1991, John and Rita hit all of the favorite spots and held hands the whole ride home, Rita died two weeks later.  John is predeceased by four of his children, Cheryl, Paul, Peter and Charles.  John leaves his children; John, Michael and Mary, Timothy and Dawn and Christopher and Belinda.  He also leaves behind his grandchildren: Sarah, Kelly, Jason, Andrew, Ryn, Larissa, Roxanne, Brandon, Timothy and Suzanne, their spouses and 9 great-grandchildren. 

John was a very prideful man.  He enjoyed music big band music and was avid golf player at the Dunroamin Country Club in Gilbertville, where he would play 5 days a week in his retirement.   Most of all, John loved to make people smile.  He was a jokester , which included organizing bus trips to see the Red Sox and telling jokes he memorized into a microphone the whole way to Boston. 

The family would like to give a special thank you to Representative Todd Smola and his staff and a heartfelt thank you to the staff at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home for their loving care that they provided to John.

John you will be fondly remembered by all who knew you, and whose lives you have touched.

A Prayer Service for John will be held, Saturday, March 14, 2020 at 10:00AM in Charbonneau Funeral Home, 30 Pleasant Street in Ware. Calling hours will be held on Friday, March 13, 2020 from 4 to 7PM in the Charbonneau Funeral Home, 30 Pleasant Street in Ware.  Burial with Military Honors will be in Mount Carmel Cemetery following the mass.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Friends of the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, 110 Cherry St., Holyoke MA, 01040.

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