John Riemer

John Roy Riemer, 74, of Collinsville, Oklahoma, passed away on Wednesday, January 1, 2014. He was born to the late Dr. P.R. and Gwen Cummins Riemer, March 20, 1939 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. John attended and graduated from Pawnee High School in 1957. He would attend Oklahoma State University for two years majoring in Pre-Med. He would then attend and graduated from Spartan School with his A&E. He married Bonnie Ball on February 25, 1961. They lived in Oklahoma, Georgia, Florida, and finally relocating to Collinsville, OK in 2003. While attending Oklahoma State University he started "hanging around the airport" and decided "This is what I want to do; fly!" He would work for Boeing in Wichita on B 52's while waiting to actually fly. Following graduation from Spartan School, he flew Charter and then returned to get his multi-engine rating, then transport ratings. In 1964 he was hired by Eastern Air Lines and flew both domestic and international routes for 26 years. He checked out in 1978 from Eastern Air Lines as a Captain and continued until 1990 when he retired from Eastern Air Lines. After retirement, he was a corporate pilot and flew a Lear jet for the Professional Race Car driver, Emerson Fitipaldi. John was not one for sitting doing nothing. He drove Formula Race cars around the country. He and a friend started a Flight School in Pompano Beach, which included aerobatics. Besides being a Pilot, he was also certified flight engineer and Flight instructor. He enjoyed not only teaching aerobatics, but flying in competition aerobatics as well as air shows. He would also instruct many of his family and friends including one of his last students was friends and little brother Jim. In addition to flying, teaching others to fly, competing in shows, he also built his own 2 seated RV6 airplane. It took him 15 years due to family illness, but finished it a few years before he was 70 years old. . He was a member of EAA and simply loved all aspects of flying and even remote controlled model airplanes with his son, John. In addition to the "clouds" John loved the water and while living in Florida he would boat on the inland waterways, and loved to deep sea fish with family and friends. John served his country and his state as a member of the Oklahoma National Guard for 10 years. In his "spare time," he would take his son and the neighborhood boys skiing, boating, fishing, and treating them to hamburgers cooked on the grill. He was always one to help others. He loved his family and while living in Florida he operated a water well drilling business and when his father needed a well, he drove his rig to Pawnee to drill a well for him. It has been said.....John was, well John. He was a kind person who loved and lived life to the fullest. The faster he flew or drove, the bigger smile he had! John signed off "My soul is in the sky" for he has "gone west." He will be missed by many. John was a member of the First Christian Church, in Pawnee, Oklahoma having been baptized on November 9th, 1948. John is survived by his loving wife Bonnie, of the home; son John Michael and Darly of Virginia; Sister Jane and Barry Epperley of Tulsa; Brother Dr. Jim and Donna Riemer of Pawnee; plus a number of nieces and nephews and extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. P. R. and Gwen Riemer and his beloved daughter Rhonda. In lieu of flowers, donations made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City OK 73123-1718; 1-800-227-2345. John's life will be celebrated in worship at First Christian Church, Pawnee on Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at 2:00 PM with a burial at Highland Cemetery, Pawnee, Oklahoma.