John Joseph Roche Jr.

John Joseph Roche Jr., 60 of Jonesboro, passed away on Tuesday April 19, 2011 at NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro. He was born November 18, 1950 in Brooklyn, New York to Joan and John Roche Sr.

John graduated from Monmouth University in the Township of Monmouth with a Bachelors degree in business and joined the Navy in 1976. He was united in matrimony to Carla Roche on July 17, 1982. John honorably served in the United States Navy and retired with 21 years of dedicated years in 1997 and moved to Jonesboro where he lived out the rest of his days working as an electrician and loving life with his family and close friends.

John was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Gerard Roche.

John will be fondly remembered by his wife Carla Maree; daughters Michele Eileen Riner of Norfolk, Virginia and Erin Marie Roche of Jonesboro, Ar; sons Brandon Michael Roche of Jonesboro, Ar and John Roche III of Austin, Tx. As well as his sister Maureen Roche-Waltermire and his brother Michael Roche of Belford, NJ. John has four grandchildren, Joseph, Samantha, Siddalee and Rhyla that will miss him greatly.

“God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be. So He put His arms around you and whispered “come to me.” With tearful eyes we watched you, and saw you pass away. Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating; hard working hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.”

A visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday at Emerson Funeral Home.

The funeral services will be on Saturday in Emerson Memorial Chapel at 2:00 pm.