John Henry Wehe III, Lt. Colonel -USAF (Retired), 96, loving husband and father, whose quiet strength and leadership remains the compass that will forever guide his family, died peacefully on February 2, 2021.

John, also fondly known as Hank, was born to Mildred Outwater and John Henry Wehe II, in Edgewood, New Jersey on November 11, 1924, the oldest of three children. His father's early passing left John the man of the house at 12 years old. He was no stranger to responsibility when he married the love of his life, his late wife, Pauline Mae Lott, who he met in grade school in Tappan, New York. They were married for 75 years and had four children: Geoffrey Wehe (Gina), Marville-Victoria Vandever (Bill-deceased) Christopher Wehe and Jacqueline Law-Snider (Craig).

A longtime resident of Jacksonville, Arkansas, John was a dedicated member of the Hope Lutheran Church. He was a passionate career military officer serving many years at Little Rock Air Force Base. He was a lifeguard before he joined the Navy at age 17 where he served for four years. After the Navy, John attended college and at age 25 he joined the Air Force and was soon commissioned as an officer. He is a decorated veteran of WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He was most recently honored with the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery and for saving lives with his keen aeronautical navigation skills. He will forever be our lifeguard.

John was also an avid golfer and enjoyed the sport for many years. So much so that he once said, "in Heaven all the golf shots are perfect." He is teeing off now for that hole in one.

Family was another passion of John's. Preceded in death by his wife Pauline in 2018, John is survived by his four children named above, as well as 9 grandchildren: Jenny Wehe, (Lisa) Betsy Wehe, John Wehe (Kari), Emily Anderson (Brandon), Aaron McCann (Jennifer), Ross Vandever (Amy), Allison Vandever (Mark), Chad Law and Samantha Law-DeMatteo (Eric). He also had 14 great-grandchildren: Joseph Wehe, Ceara Gannon, Hope Anderson, Corrine McCann, Bryson McCann, Lucy McCann, Callie, McCann, Hudson Vandever, Jadie-Ruth Wehe, Naomi Wehe, Isaiah Wehe, Eden Wehe, Eleanor Vandever and Charley-Mae DeMatteo.

John's warm strength, constant love and handsome smile will remain in all of our hearts forever.

Memorial gifts may be made to Arkansas Children's Hospital, Humane Society of Pulaski County, or your favorite charity. A private graveside service will be held at a later date.

John requested the letter below be published with his obituary:

An unusual farewell –
I suppose people will think of this as bizarre! I agree. After attending many funerals and memorials I often wondered, what would the deceased say to the attendees if they could? It is with this statement being read to you that I am going to accomplish this: my last words.
Thank you for being here and for having been my friend. I really enjoyed all of our time together. It counted. I have told my immediate family and hope demonstrated by my love for each of them in some personal way they can recall.
I do not want sadness associated with this day, on the contrary, please come by and over cocktails and snacks, remember the good times we have all enjoyed.
So-long and may we meet again in God's Paradise where all golf shots are perfect.
- John H. "Hank" Wehe