John Joseph De Rosa Jr. passed away peacefully at his home on July 27, 2024, with his two daughters by his side. John was born on Thanksgiving Day, November 27th, 1930, to John and Catherine De Rosa in Jersey City, New Jersey. He attended Boniface Catholic Grade School and played baseball for them. He graduated from High School and continued his studies at the RCA School of Electronics while working for the American Can Company.
John met his future wife at a Halloween party, and they married on June 20, 1954, at Saint George Ukrainian Catholic Church in New York City, New York. They lived in Jersey City, New Jersey and had four children born at Margaret Hague Maternity Hospital in Jersey City, New Jersey. The four children are John De Rosa III of Ridgecrest, CA; Joseph De Rosa of Bakersfield, CA; Catherine Mattox of Ridgecrest, CA; and Frances Pegler of Village of Lakewood, Illinois. He then started his government career working for the U.S. Army Picatinny Arsenal and moved his family to Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey, where he built his own home.
In 1972, he and his family moved to China Lake, CA, to work for the Naval Weapons Center as an Electronics Engineer. He worked 42+ years for the government until his retirement from the base. While working full-time on the base, he attended Cerro Coso College, graduated with an Associate’s Degree, and began teaching electronics and automotive classes at Cerro Coso part-time. He was involved with the Desert Ceramic Club on the base. He was a member of the Indian Wells Gem & Mineral Club for over 45 years and President of the club for many years up until the day he passed away. He was an avid rock hound as well as an avid gardener, growing tomatoes, grapes, and fruit trees. He was involved with Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, coached Little League baseball and football, and was an umpire for baseball. He enjoyed playing the guitar, deer hunting, pheasant hunting, fishing, and traveling/cruising the world with his wife of 69 years.
He loved to travel with his family on many road trips and cruises: Niagara Falls, Alaska, Italy, China, Russia, Iceland (where he bathed in the Thermal Baths at the Blue Lagoon), Ukraine, Croatia, Sardinia, Calabria, Greece, Spain, Mexico, Hawaii, England, Canada, and the Panama Canal.
He was a very caring and giving person, always donating to many charities in need. He participated in the Relay for Life cancer walk every year. He was a carpenter, welder, electrician, automotive repairer, engineer, family man, and devoted Catholic. He always said, “I can fix anything except a broken heart and the Ten Commandments.” He is greatly loved, will be forever missed, and will be forever in our hearts.
John is survived by John De Rosa III, son; Catherine (De Rosa) Mattox, Daughter; Frances (De Rosa) Pegler, daughter; Judith De Rosa, sister; Paul Predoehl, nephew; and Robert Pegler, son-in-law.
John was preceded in death by Frances De Rosa, wife; Joseph John De Rosa, son; John De Rosa, Sr., father; Catherine De Rosa, mother; George P. De Rosa, uncle; Antonia Pochmursky, mother-in-law; John Pochmursky, father in law; Vernon Predoehl, brother-in-law; Jerry Mattox, son-in-law; and Karla DeRosa, daughter-in-law.
There will be a Rosary and viewing at Holland & Lyons Mortuary on Fri 16th, Aug, from 5-8 pm, Rosary 5 pm, viewing 5:30 – 8 pm. The funeral service will be held at St. Ann Catholic Church on Sat 17 Aug at 11 am. Following the funeral, there will be a graveside service at the Desert Memorial Park, Ridgecrest. There will be a reception following the graveside service at St Ann Hall.