John Francis Willacker

John Willacker was born in Bucyrus, Ohio to Francis “Lefty” Willacker and Emelyn Von Kaenel Willacker on June 12,1940. John died April 2, 2025, after a brief illness. He attended the University of Notre Dame graduating in 1961 with a degree in Chemical Engineering and a member of the Monogram Club. In 1961, he moved West to begin his aerospace career and marry Bonnie Dee Pischoff August 3,1963, in Hillsborough, California. They resided in Venice, California for 33 years prior to moving to Palm Desert. John started his career at Douglas Aircraft Company in Santa Monica and continued at McDonnell Douglas Corporation in Huntington Beach until 1984.

Willacker joined The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, in 1984 as a Senior Project Engineer, Propulsion Directorate. He held several other important engineering and management positions before assuming the position of Vice-President of Space Launch Operations on April 1, 1998. He had responsibility for the company’s launch operations at Cape Canaveral, Vandenberg Air Force Base and operations in support of the Space Test Program at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. John retired from The Aerospace Corporation on March 31, 2001, but continued work as a casual for 8 years serving on Senior Review teams dedicated to maintaining and increasing mission success for National Security Missions. .

Willacker became a Sun City Palm Desert homeowner in January 2000. He was very active in the Community Association serving on the Management Transition Committee, Technical Advisory Committee, and the Strategic Business Plan Committee. He headed the News and Views distribution group starting in 2006. In 2009, he was elected to the SCPDCA Board of Directors and served two terms, the second as president. During his first term, he chaired the Aging in Place committee which gave birth to the Desert Village Initiative and Neighbors for Neighbors Resident Group. He was president of the DVI board until he was elected president of the SCPDCA board in May 2011. He was committed to the vision and goals of DVI/N4N. He served on the Bulk Internet/ Television Committee, was a member of the General Manager Ad Hoc Search Committee, the Election Committee, Emergency Preparedness Committee and was a Welcome Center volunteer.

John loved being with family and friends, open wheel racing, the Eastern Sierra back country, all wine regions and wine tasting, any type of travel and Princess cruises. He was a good listener, strong team member, dedicated manager and a wonderful husband, father, brother, uncle and mentor to many.

He is loved and missed by his wife, Bonnie, son Gregory (wife Nellie), Alex and Megan, daughter Lorna Karabey (husband Halil), grandsons, Brett and Luke Karabey and his sister Jean Literte (husband Rod).nieces Catherine and Patricia (Walter) and nephew Amari, his numerous cousins and the Farr, Treefoot, and Wuerthner families.