John Robert Adams, 81, of Bear Lake, passed away in the early morning of July 4, 2019 after suffering a massive brain bleed on July 1. He was born in his grandparents' house early in the morning of Oct. 9, 1937 in Arlington, South Dakota.

John's father was a civil engineer for the U.S. Army, so the young family moved a lot. John attended many elementary schools and four high schools. He attended Washington State University before transferring to the University of Illinois, where he met Ellen and married her. He finished his degree at South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota.

John began his career with the Boeing Company in Seattle, Washington, and continued in Huntsville, Alabama, and New Orleans, Louisiana, working on the Saturn booster rocket. He finished his career working for Collins Radio/Rockwell International in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

John is survived by his wife of 61 years, Ellen. He is further survived by his five children, Rob (Kaleen), Kenneth (Kelle), Trish (Rick), Tim (Anne) and David; and 11 grandchildren, Shane, Lyndsay, Megan, Nicole, John, Jack, Tim, Jordan, Blake, Emma and Matthew.

Graveside services will be held at a later date in Arlington, South Dakota, where John will be laid to rest next to his parents. We miss him and will treasure all the good memories.

The Terwilliger Funeral Home in Kaleva is in charge of arrangements; www.terwilligerfuneralhome.com.