John Richard "Rick" Lachowsky

February 7, 1948 – April 28, 2026 

Born in Colorado Springs, CO, John was the only boy, and middle child in a family otherwise full of girls. He graduated from St Mary’s High School in 1966, and served honorably in the US Navy from 1966-1970, seeing much of the world stationed on a ship during the Vietnam War, including serving on the crew that picked up the Apollo 11 astronauts.

In 1975, John married Katherine Tannis Lassiter, later divorced. They welcomed their first son before relocating to Utah in 1980, and welcoming two more sons. John began working at the Tooele Army Depot as a Program Analyst, telling his kids he “counted bullets” for all 41 years before retiring.

John coached soccer for over 30 years, and met the love of his life, Sandra Howard, on the soccer field. He married her on August 2, 1996, happily and lovingly adding her four boys to the brood and raising them as his own to make a merry house with now SEVEN boys, later adding one more baby in 1999 to make an even EIGHT. John and Sandra built a house in Magna, UT, where they shared a happy life, full of children and love. After finishing counting all the bullets and retiring from Tooele Army Depot, John and Sandra moved their empty nest to Mesquite, NV, sharing a few happy, scorching years enjoying some much-deserved peace and quiet. Sandra lovingly cared for John day and night through his courageous and high-spirited cancer journey for his final 380 days.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew & Marguerite Lachowsky, his sister Rita Marie, lost to SIDS, and brother in-law John Goad.

He is survived by his wife, Sandra, children Richard (Alli) Lachowsky, Paul (Aubrey) Lachowsky, Jonathan (Melissa) Parry, Christopher (Quintina) Parry, Nicholas (Liz) Parry, David (Ryan McAllister) Lachowsky, Thomas (Haley) Kane, Xavier (Caylee) Lachowsky, sisters Emily Schwoerke, Barbara (Bob) Palmer, Martha Goad, and Fran (Phil) Romanowicz, and grandchildren Ethan, Jamie, Hyrum, Grant, Everett, Trent, Kaitlyn, Andreas, Everly, Wylder, Goldie, Caspian, and at least one he wasn’t yet able to make the acquaintance of, Aurora.

Celebration of life will take place at a later date, where there will be only “cheap beer,” per John’s request. This will later be followed by a service with military honors.