Rapid City John Alfred Macchiarella, 80, Rapid City Was taken peacefully to heaven on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at Rapid City Regional Auxiliary Hospice House. He was born June 10, 1929 in Boston, Massachusetts to Mario John and Dorothy (Savory) Macchiarella. His mother died when he was quite young and the family eventually settled in Florida, where his Aunt Rose Nottingham helped to raise John and his younger brother, Ted. After graduating high school, John joined the United States Air Force. His military career took him many places; Dover, Delaware, Tripoli, Lybia, Wichita, Kansas, Bitburg, Germany and finally, after 27 years, retiring at Ellsworth Air Force Base. After retiring, John continues his education, attending National College of Business. While attending college, he bartended at Howard Johnsons and the Time Out Lounge. Upon completing his bachelor of Science degree in business, he worked at Control Data, MPI and eventually SCI as a scheduler. He was an active member of the Knights of COluymbus and Rushmore VFW Post 1273. He left work to care for his wife, Marge who had developed cancer. John always said he felt blessed to have been loved by two very special women. He married Margarethe Voelsgen on October 4, 1951 in Munich, Germany. John and Marge had four children; Michael, Mary, Jim and Theresa. Then on August 26, 1995, John married Mary Ella Ness in Rapid City and welcomed stepson, Wade, to the family. John was a hard working, fun loving, generous and caring man. He enjoyed gardening, cooking and his trips to Deadwood. He loved his family and friends unconditionally. He will be missed tremendously, but will be in our hearts forever. Survivors include his children; Michael Macchiarella and Virginia Kulpanowski, Little Rock, Arkansas, Mary Headrick and her husband, Tony, Nashville, Tennessee, Jim Macchiarella and Erika Brown, Seattle, Washington and Theresa Salazar and her husband Lee, Rapid City, stepson, Wade Ness and his wife, Jenny, Rapid City, a sister, Mary Sasser, Bailey, Colorado and 21 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wives Marge and Mary Ella, his parents, and a brother Ted. Visitation will be Sunday, June 28, 2009 from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm with a Rosary and Christian Wake Service at 7:00 pm at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home in Rapid City. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:00 am, Monday, June 29 at the Church of St Therese, The Little Flower in Rapid City with Fr. Bill Zandri presiding. Interment will be at Black Hills National Cemetery with military honors provided by the Ellsworth Air Force Base Honors Team. A memorial has been established by the family.