John Thomas Rader

John Thomas Rader

John Thomas Rader, 73, passed away at his home in Saginaw, Minnesota, on Oct. 31, 2022. He was born at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey on Jan. 18, 1949, to the late Col. Thomas Owen Rader, USAF, RET., and M. Donise Stroth Rader. He graduated from Bellevue High School in 1967 and Bellevue University, both in Bellevue, Nebraska.

He was a U.S. Air Force-ANGUS veteran from 1973 until 1980, having served with the Alaska International Guard, serving as a Tactical Airlift Pilot for five years, and four months with the 773 Tactical Airlift Squadron, attaining the rank of Captain. He began his teaching career in August of 1997 with the Wellston City Schools as a 7th and 8th grade science teacher. He retired from that position in 2010. He assisted in managing his family’s Christmas tree farm in Wellston before deciding to move to Saginaw to be in touch with the great outdoors.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death in 2012 by his brother, Steven Douglas Rader.

He is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Linda and Jim Branson of Medina, Ohio; a niece, Jamie (Matt) Harding of Medina and their children, great niece Lia Harding and great nephew Branson Harding; a nephew, Sean M. (Jessica) Rader of Greeley, Colorado, and their child, great nephew Cohen Rader; and many cousins.

Private burial will be in the Ridgewood Cemetery in Wellston at a later date.

Arrangements are by the Jenkins Funeral Chapel of Wellston, Ohio.