John Sherman Ketchum

John Sherman Ketchum of Tecumseh, Missouri, passed away January 7, 2022, in Mountain Home, Arkansas at the age of 78. He was born February 3, 1943, in Carthage, Missouri, the son of John and Virginia Chapman Ketchum. John graduated from Reed Springs High School and SMSU in Springfield, MO with a BS degree. He served as a Captain in the U.S. Marine Corps and served in the Vietnam war as a helicopter pilot with VMO3 in 1967-1968. He worked in federal law enforcement with FADD, DEA, and US Customs as a pilot. He flew various air craft during his 30+year career to include helicopters, twin engines, and jets. He worked in many foreign countries with the federal law enforcement administrations out of the offices in Los Angeles, CA, San Diego,CA, Miami, FL, Houston,TX, and Washington DC before retiring with US Customs in 1993 and moving to Tecumseh, MO. He married Mary Renkemeyer Stokes on May 5, 2001, in Mountain Home, AR.

John was a member of the Twin Lakes Gun Club participating in the muzzleloader’s shooting competitions. He enjoyed fishing, especially fly fishing on the Northfork of the White River, hunting for deer and turkey with his friends at the Whitlow hunting cabin, pheasant hunting in South Dakota, taking walks through the woods with his dog, Jewell, and reading books about military history.

John was a kind, gentle man and will be missed by many who knew and loved him.

John is survived by his wife, Mary Ketchum of Tecumseh, MO; sons, Nick Ketchum (Eve) of Ramona, CA; William Ketchum (Junko) of Mission Viejo, CA; daughter, Eileen DelaTorre (Edward), Katy, TX; Step son- Richard Stokes (Danielle), Olathe, KS; Step daughters, Dawn Stokes-Kimmen (Andrew), Cleveland, OK and LeAnn Blaylock (Joey) Sand Springs, OK.

grandchildren: Amelia DelaTorre, Juliet DelaTorre, Kai Ketchum, step grand children- Delaney Blaylock, Madison Blaylock, Braden Stokes, Kayden Stokes.
brothers - David Ketchum (Nadine) Mission Viejo, CA; Chris Ketchum (Micky), Evergreen, CO; Philip Ketchum (Nancy) Leawood, KS.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Suzanne Carey.

John’s wishes were to be cremated and his remains be placed in the Veterans Cemetery in Springfield, MO at a later date to be determined by the family.

Arrangements are by Kirby and Family Funeral and Cremation Services - Mountain Home, Arkansas. Visit an online obituary and guestbook at www.kirbyandfamily.com .