John Jay Degroot

John Jay DeGroot, 59, of White City, Kansas, died Tuesday, February 16, 2021. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, February 25, 2021, at Peoria Cemetery, Ottawa, with military honors by the United States Air Force. John was born April 3, 1961, at Des Moines, Iowa, the son of Jay Norton and Ruth Elinor (Schwietert) DeGroot. He lived in Junction City, Kansas 5 years, moving in 2006 to White City, Kansas. He graduated from Shawnee Mission West High School with the class of 1979 and continued his education at Aero Mechanics School, Kansas City, Missouri, receiving his Air Frame and Power Plant License. John also received an Inspection Authorization Certification in Georgia. John served in the United States Air Force from 1979 to 1983 and reached the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was a lifelong aircraft mechanic working in Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, California and Georgia. In 2000 to 2018 John was employed in Junction City, Kansas. John was a member and volunteered at the Combat Air Museum, Topeka, beginning in 1983. He enjoyed aviation and mechanical hobbies and train and railroad history. He was preceded in death by his father Jay DeGroot. Survivors include his mother, Ruth DeGroot and sister, Shirley DeGroot and husband Richard McCarthy of Moody, Texas.