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Roderick “Rod” Powers, 63, died Friday, Feb. 10, 2012 at Rainbow Hospice In Patient Center in Johnson Creek, Wis.
Rod was born Nov. 3, 1948, in Greensburg, Kan., son of the late Ralph and Eva (Hickman) Powers. He graduated from Garden City high school in in 1966 and briefly attended Garden City Community College.
He entered the Air Force on Oct. 18, 1967 and served in Vietnam War from July 25, 1968, to July 20, 1969. He was stationed in Nha Trang Air Force Base near Saigon as a weapons mechanic in the Munitions Maintenance Branch, 14th Field Maintenance Squadron. He received the U.S. Air Force Commendation Medal for meritorious service while in South Vietnam. He was one of the first technicians to install a laser- guided-munitions on a F4 Phantom. He was honorably discharged with a rank of Sergeant on Oct. 15, 1971.
He worked for Butler in Garden City, Kan., where he met Mary Margaret Greer. The two wed Oct. 19, 1974. They moved to Fort Atkinson in 1984 where he was a customer service representative for J-Star Industries for more than 30 years.
Powers was a skilled wood worker, handyman and vehicle maintenance expert. He was a collector of toy model cars, tools and coins. He also cherished time he had spent watching and teaching children especially his grandchildren — his only boys.
Survivors include his wife Mary; daughters Rebecca Garcia and husband Cesar of Fort Atkinson, Rachel Dearinger and husband Steven of Burleson, Texas; three grandchildren Max Dearinger, Jack Garcia and one on the way; brother Richard Powers and wife Sheila of Garden City, Kan.; sister Rita Johnson and husband Robert of Las Vegas. A brother Ralph Dean Powers Jr. preceded him in death.
He was member of the Edwin Frohmader VFW Post 1879 in Fort Atkinson and lifetime member of the Handyman Club of America.
A prayer service will be at noon Friday, Feb. 17 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Father Brian Wilk officiating. Friends may call from 10:30 a.m. on Friday at the church until time of service. Burial will take place at St. Joseph Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Rainbow Hospice Care or the VA Hospital.
Aircraft/Missile Information
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS RF-4C PHANTOM II McDonnell Douglas RF-4C
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In the early 1960s, the USAF recognized the need for more tactical reconnaissance aircraft to reinforce the RF-101s then in service. The USAF chose a modification of the F-4C fighter. The RF-4C development program began in 1962, and the first production aircraft made its initial flight on May 18, 1964. The Air Force officially accepted a total of 499 RF-4Cs.
The RF-4C can carry a variety of cameras in three different stations in its nose section. It could take photos at both high and low altitude, day or night. The RF-4C carried no offensive armament, although during the last few years of its service some were fitted with four AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles for defense.
The 16th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron became the first operational unit to fly the RF-4C. In October 1965 that unit deployed to Southeast Asia to provide photographic reconnaissance of the growing conflict in South Vietnam. In the following years, RF-4Cs flew reconnaissance missions around the world, including Desert Shield/Desert Storm in Iraq in 1990-1991. The Air Force retired all of its RF-4Cs by 1985.
The RF-4C on display was delivered to the USAF on Sept. 9, 1965. It served in Vietnam, Japan, Korea, Europe, Cuba and the Middle East. During Desert Shield/Desert Storm, this aircraft flew a total of 172 missions, more than any other F-4 aircraft. When flown to the museum in May 1994, it had more than 7,300 hours of flying time.
