John Jacob Mohr, of Lincoln, passed away on May 8, 2023 at the age of 96.

Affectionately known as Jack, Dad and Pop Pop, he was born in the then small town of Lima Ohio on June 24th 1926. His Father passed away before he was 1.

He grew up in an apartment with his Mother, above the Renz family bakery, in a building which his Grosspapa owned. It was his childhood playground and he would tell us stories about it. Tales of his first job bagging bread and then later on getting to drive one of the delivery trucks, at a not quite legal age.

I remember one story he told me where he was driving one of the older trucks and the gas pedal stuck down. Always an engineer, he somehow managed to take apart his favorite mechanical pencil, using a spring in it to fix the pedal until he got back home. Then there was the time he was delivering a wedding cake, took a corner a bit to fast, and had to return to the bakery to have the cake repaired because it had tipped over.

There was an older couple that also lived in the building, Floyd and Pontine Pond. It was from Floyd that Dad learned a lot of his Fix it skills. Floyd was like a surrogate father to him and Dad would frequently talk about him with fond memories.

Dad got started with both photography and wood working at an early age. His first Jig Saw was a birthday present, when he was 6. Not your average child's birthday gift. Dad had a gift for woodworking.

In high school Dad started making model airplanes. Taking first place as a junior in a local competition, the newspaper said his plane was last seen 6 miles away and still climbing from the airport. Dad's Mom bought a little house near a lake called St. Mary's and Dad restored and rebuilt an old power boat which he loved zipping around the lake in. There's a photo of him in it at the house.

Then came the Draft. In world war two Dad was in Czechoslovakia. But eventually ended up as an x-ray technician, something that fit in well with his interest in photography. It was because of the war and the GI bill, that Dad was able to go to college when he came home, graduating from MIT in 1950.

It was while at MIT, as a photographer for the yearbook, that Dad met Mom on a blind date. It was love at first sight for him. Together they frequented a lot of College parties that were Invite Only. Because of his yearbook photographer position, he was allowed in to take photos the event. Dad and Mom would go, he'd take his pictures, and then they could dance and enjoy the rest of the evening together. They were married in the fall of 1950.

For a few years Dad worked at Corning Glass and he and Mom moved to Danville Kentucky. Bonnie was born in 1956. They moved back up North when he started at Polaroid, where he remained for the rest of his career, helping design the Swinger, Big Swinger and the SX70.

A younger daughter, Heather, was born.

We became a test family for these newly developed cameras, taking them on vacations with us. Dad would take our photos, and the occasional broken camera, back to the office with him to help show where the product needed adjusting for easier use and better pictures. The Polaroid slogan became something we lived, sharing photos where ever we went.

Then there was the move to Lincoln. Dad helped design the house and did much of the finishing work once we had moved in. With the indoor pool, swimming parties were year round. Dad swam in that pool almost every day. He told me he used that time to work through problems at the office.

Dad continued his wood working hobby and his shop in Lincoln always had some project going. A table saw, drill press, planer, multiple sanders and many other tools joined that original Jig saw. Dad created dining room tables, bookshelves, dressers and beds just to name a few. He was delighted to make wooden toys for his grandchildren. Silver, the rocking horse, various trucks and a pedal car. Only stopping as age made it too difficult to work with the heavy boards.

And the photos. They are everywhere. Trips, sailing with friends, parties, birthdays, flowers and animals. You name it, he took pictures of it.

Including photos at church. He had a list of over 100 people that he emailed church service photos to every Sunday afternoon. When COVID started, curtailing going to church in person, Dad learned how to Zoom and would take photos that way.

Dad had an amazing and wonderful life. The changes he saw. From Radio to TV to cell phones. Even computers, Dad learned how to use them all. He was an inspiration to us all as he taught us to live our lives to the fullest.

We love you Dad and will miss you terribly. But know that you are now with God and back together with Mom where you belong.

He is survived by daughters Bonnie and Heather, and her husband Paul, and grandsons, Robert and John.

Jack was laid to rest in a private service on May 12, 2023 with U.S. Army military honors at the Lincoln Cemetery.

Donations in his memory may be made to: Memorial Congregation Church of Sudbury, MA, The North Bennett Street School of Boston, MA, and MIT, Cambridge, MA

Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.