Holtzhauer, John H. age 93 of Tipp City passed away Saturday January 28, 2017. Born May 26, 1923 in St. Mary's, Ohio to Frank and Clara {Horstman} Holtzhauer. He is preceded in death by his parents, brother, Thomas Holtzhauer, brother in-law, Tom Morsey He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Mary Jean {Niekamp} Holtzhauer, son, Frank (Patricia) Holtzhauer, Sebastian, FL, daughter, Joyce La Flame, Massillon, OH, son, Jerry Holtzhauer, Sabastian, FL and daughter Janice (John) Buschor, Huber Heights, OH. He is also survived by sisters, Mary Louise Morsey, Minster, OH, Audrey (Ted) Robbins, Wilmington, NC and sisters in-law, Eileen Holtzhauer, Fairport, NY along with 11 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. John proudly served in the Merchant Marines and was a tool and die maker for S & R Tool and Die, Dayton, OH. He was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Tipp City. He was devoted to his family, grandchildren and great grandchildren. His wife, Jean meant the world to him and he loved her till his last breath. He also loved the sand between his toes, water to swim in and the sun on his back. A good childhood memory from his children: Wednesday nights on Mayview Dr. when Dad would get together with the neighbor me in the basement sitting around the old oak table. We were honored to serve beer and snack and pop popcorn for them as they played cards, smoked their cigarettes and laughed together. As he most recently said to one of us; "I didn't know where I was going then and I don't know where I'm going now." Life lesson learned as a merchant mariner. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Thursday, Feb 2, 2017 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 753 S. Hyatt St., Tipp City; Father R. Marc Sherlock, Celebrant. Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 at FRINGS AND BAYLIFF FUNERAL HOME, 327 W. Main St., Tipp City, OH 45371. Contributions may be made in loving memory of John to the American Heart Association. Handwritten memoirs by John Holtzhauer: Joined Council 500 Dayton, 1942. Merchant Marine Veteran WWII (Sailed N. Atlantic, North Mediterranean Sea and South Pacific) First day after graduating Minster High, started work at Huffman Bike 1941, then worked as a tool and die maker at Norwood Engineering; 12 hours a night, 7 days a week. Had a deferment but joined the Maritime, Cincinnati, OH. 6 months at Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY. Shipped out of Frisco on sea going tug. Had a cement Liberty ship in tow; cargo unknown. Member of the K of C; Minster Council, Winter Haven & Tipp City. Made trips to Europe, Scotland, Wales, France and Azores; 80 ship convoy. On hook at Oean, Scotland waiting for invasion; unloaded shipload of beer and rations at Herberg, France with Ducks & Germans. Had scmulded the ships at dockside Pacific. Been to Hawaii, Marshalls Island, New Guinea, Admiralty Island, Philippines, Chile also to these ports; San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, New York, Baltimore and 4 times to the Panama Canal. Training on 3" & 5" & 20 Mil. All merchant ships at a 3" forward, 5" back aft & 620 Mil A small group of Navy armed guards; we filled in on tee guns, fuse setter; on 1 trip manned the 20 Mil, other times learned to navigate by the stars if in life boat I was in black gang (down below). Had oiler, fireman and water tender license. My dad belonged to the K of C; dad died in Belfonte, OH when I was 7; moved in with grandparents at Minster, OH