John Morasch

Dec. 17, 1920 ~ Feb. 8, 2020

Lt. Col. John Morasch, USAF retired, died February 8, 2020. He was 99 years old. He was born December 17, 1920 in Endicott, WA.

Lt. Col. Morasch moved to Camas, WA when he was 6 years old. He graduated from Camas High School in 1937 at age 16, the first in his family to do so. After high school he and his father started a garbage collection service, where John ran the only truck in Camas/Washougal.

He had always known he wanted to work with airplanes, so at age 19, John went to Los Angeles to airplane mechanic school. He joined the Army Air Corps in 1941 as a buck private. While there, he went to a Friends Church young adult function in a nearby town and met the love of his life, Annette Luquet. After cadet school, he was about to be transferred, he had a five day pass during which he and Annette decided to get married. He had no dress clothes, so he was married in a uniform borrowed from the local dry cleaner.

John spoke many times of going to the altar at Prune Hill FRIENDS Church as a teenager, and giving his life to Christ. He was always tuned in to Christ leading him. During his military career, there were many times that he should have perished, but because of God’s hand, he and others in his airplane were saved.

Lt. Col. Morasch served as a pilot during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. During World War II he was a flight instructor for the B-17 in Hobbs and B-24 in Roswell. After World War II, John settled in Camas, WA, and started a logging/sawmill business. When the Korean conflict started, he was called back to service to fly the C-124, his favorite plane. During The Vietnam War, Lt. Col. Morasch earned numerous medals, including the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was presented a plaque that read, “For meritorious service while performing frequent and hazardous aerial flights over the Republic of Vietnam.” Indicative of his humility, we found it in a box, he never mentioned it.

John and his family moved every few years; lived in England, France, Delaware, California, Alabama, and several other places, but he always called Camas his “hometown”.

In 1971, John and Annette retired after their daughter was diagnosed with a terminal illness. They purchased his mom’s farm in Camas.

Lt. Col. Morasch is survived by his daughters, Kristine (David) Gano and Dr. Annette (Don) Schaad; grandchildren, Steve (Mai) Morasch, Michael Morasch, Helen (Jay) May, David (Andrea) Gano, Cory Gano; 12 great-grandchildren; sisters, Mary Margaret Meyer and Flory (Don) Eby.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Annette; son, Dr. John; daughter, Joanne (Jodi); grandson, John Paul; great-grandson, Daniel; brothers, Conrad and Dr. Daniel; sisters, Pauline, Lydia, Rebecca and Elizabeth.

John was a loving husband, father, grandpa, great-grandpa, our “Pa”, and MOST importantly a disciple of Christ, who valued actions beyond words, fact beyond feelings, God before family and family above all else. He was a humble man, taught us to always do the “right thing”, whether it was best for us personally or not.

Integrity was a favorite word. He lived it and tried to instill it in his family and others.

Our family misses and celebrates him and his unparalleled life; spanning well beyond his service to our great Nation.

John will be buried next to his wife and daughter at Camas Cemetery.

John loved kids so, in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Christian Youth Organization of your choice.