John M. Rahm Sr.
May 5, 1932 ~ February 6, 2024
McDonough Southern Funerals & Cremations
John M Rahm Sr. of McDonough, Ga., born in the Bronx, NY to Ogden and Rachel Rahm, died peacefully on February 6, 2024, at the age of 91 years old.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Arlene Eskra, after 45 years of marriage in 1999; and his wife Dorothy Vandenberge, after 19 years of marriage in 2023; Daughters Theresa Jarrard in 2005, and Kimberly Rahm in 2012, and his Brother, Frank in 2022. John is survived by his Sister Joan Warr of Oakland NJ, Daughter, Diane Mayes/Bob of Tampa, Fl; Son, John Rahm Jr./Melinda of McDonough, Ga; Grandson Shane Merritt/Amy of Marietta, Ga. and Great Grandchildren Tessa Lopez/Luis and David Sheffield; Grandson Brian and Great Granddaughter Olivia Jarrard of Williamson, Ga., Grandson Michael/Stephanie, and Great Granddaughters Natalie and Emily Mayes from Dallas, Tx., Granddaughter Margaret/Chris, and Great Grandchildren Taylor and Evan Trautwein from Clearwater Florida; Stepdaughter Eileen Gilbert/ Mike, and Grandson Zachary from Miami, and many nieces and nephews.
John spent over 40 years working as an Aircraft Mechanic and Supervisor at Eastern Airlines achieving many honors. He was an active and a long-standing supporter of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM)(AFL-CIO). After retiring from Eastern, John continued to work in the Aircraft Maintenance field as a contractor for several additional years doing the work he loved.
John enjoyed fishing, woodworking, and restoring old cars. He always had a work shed wherever he lived so he had a place to work on all his projects. They were filled with toolboxes and woodworking equipment. He could build or create anything with his hands. He once had a cedar tree die and fall on his property and he built a beautiful chest with the wood.
He never stopped tinkering and did most of his own household maintenance well into his 80’s. He never wanted to ask anyone to fix anything that he thought he could fix himself. He had a quick wit and his favorite thing to say was “if you need a helping hand, all you have to do is look on the end of your arm.”
He had a good heart and a ferocious soft spot and love for animals. Many of his pets, both dogs and cats, were rescued by him from off the streets. He gave them love and caring and they all lived good long lives. In his later years you could always find him in his oversized reclining chair with a cat in his lap or a dog nearby waiting for a treat.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Humane Society of your choice.
The family will receive friends in the chapel at Eastlawn Memorial Park at 640 McGarity Rd. McDonough Ga. on February 24, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.
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John, Mike and I loved you from the moment we met you. You came to Miami and asked if you could marry our Mom. You had dated as teenagers in the Bronx and after many years apart while marrying others and creating families of your own, fate brought you together again. I will always remember you for your heartwarming kindness, your sense of humor and the love you showed Mom and our family. It was undeniable. Zach will always remember you as Grandpa John. The only Grandpa he had. He has fond memories of you discussing airplanes with him. He was so impressed to learn that you were once an airplane mechanic. His fondest memory of you is sitting on your lap and cutting the grass with your riding mower. He was about 5 years old then and at 17 years old now he still brings up that memory when your name is mentioned. John although we will miss you terribly, we know that you are at peace after a long time of suffering. Rest easy and know that you will live on in our hearts and our memories.
With love,
Eileen Gilbert ❤️
Dear Grandpa John,
I’m so sorry that I didn’t get to talk to you one more time before you died. I have so many good memories of you. I loved when you would take into your garages to look at all your tools and other neat stuff. My favorite was always your lawn mowers. When I was 2 years old we pretended I was driving your lawn mower and you took a picture. When I was 5 years old you let me sit in your lap and we cut the grass together. When I was 15 years old you were in the hospital and your grass needed to be cut and you allowed me to get the lawnmower out and cut the grass by myself. I was so happy to be able to do that for you.
I will miss you Grandpa John.
Love, Zach
John, you always treated us, your step- family, with the same love as your original family. As soon as we learned of your reunification with Dottie and meeting you shortly after, we knew what a special gentleman you were. Your welcoming warmth, compassion, and sense of humor always showed your sincere love for everyone. Your love towards Eileen, Zach, and I will always be remembered. We will miss you very much. May you rest in eternal peace.
Mike Gilbert
So sorry for your loss …I know he was a good , good man …. Just look at his son !! Prayers for you all. Jill and Jim Stroud.
Dear Dad/John
Mike, Zach and I attended your Memorial service recently. We came to celebrate you but more importantly we wanted you to know we were there because we loved you and we needed closure. I believe that you and Mom both knew we were there and you were both happy about that. I really felt the need to say goodbye to you since I was not allowed to speak with you after Mom died. That choice was not mine and I’m certain it was not yours. I know how much you loved me and my family. We loved you the same. We never spoke on the phone without saying I love you before we hung up. I’m sure you knew that Zach got up and spoke at your service. I know you were proud of him for doing that because you knew how difficult it is for him to articulate his thoughts. You two had a great bond. He will always have fond memories of time spent with you. I spoke at your service too but it was a bit too emotional for me to say everything I wanted to say. One of my fondest memories was quite a few years ago, Mom was in the hospital, I flew to Georgia from Miami. You and Kimberly picked me up at the airport. The next morning I asked if you could take me somewhere to rent a car to get back and forth from the house and hospital to visit Mom.
You said, absolutely not., you can drive my Cadillac. I was shocked because you loved that car and nobody drove it but you. I said, are you sure? You responded, you’re my family, you can have the car for as long as you need it. Kimberly happened to be there when we were having this discussion and she said to me, Dad must really care about you to let you drive that car. I drove that car back and forth to the hospital for 10 days and I treated the car like it was a baby.
I was afraid that it might get a scratch or a dent while in my possession. When I returned the car to you in the same shape as I received it you said, I knew you could handle her. That told me that you trusted me and had faith in me. Knowing that you and Mom dated at the young age of 16 and then you searched for and found her after more than 50 years of being apart, it brings me great comfort in knowing that you were each others first love and last love.
I believe that you have now been reunited once again and will rest in heavenly peace.
Dear Dad/Grandpa John,
We want to wish you a Happy, Heavenly Birthday. We love you and miss you very much. ❤️🎂
Hi Dad,
I will miss not speaking to you today to wish you a Happy Fathers Day.
Love you! ❤️
Well Dad, it’s been six months and a few days since you left us. I think of you often. I missed your call that I always received the morning of my Birthday.
Give Mm a kiss for me. Ok?
Dear Dad/ Grandpa John
We missed you on your first Christmas in Heaven. We didn’t get to send you your favorite things you always enjoyed receiving from us at Christmas. We missed the phone call we always had too
Well tomorrow starts a New Year and shortly after that you will have been gone for one year. It brings me comfort knowing you and Mom are together enjoying life free of pain and worries. Give Mom a kiss for me. Although you are gone, you will live on in our hearts. We love you! ❤️
Dear Dad-Grandpa John
Today marks one year since you left this earth. Although you are no longer with us in body, you remain in our hearts and memories.
Give Mom a kiss for me. We miss you both. ❤️❤️