Merril John Tennesee Borgman

Merril 'John' Tennesee Borgman, age 60, of Milwaukie, Oregon died May 27, 2014 at his home.  He was born April 4, 1954 in Klamath Falls, Oregon, the son of Merrill Alvin Borgman and Alice Virginia Beach-Burback.

John is lovingly remembered by his wife; Joan Jones-Borgman of Milwaukie; mother; Alice Beach-Burback, of Oregon City; step-father, Robert Burback, Oregon City; daughter; Talitha St. John and husband, Michael of Bend, Oregon; step-son, Jordan Jones of Milwaukie; two sisters, Susan Borgman-Dunn and husband, Paul of Albany, Oregon and Tamara Taylor-Gilmour and husband, William of Tampa, Florida; brother, Mark Borgman of Coos Bay and Oregon City, Oregon; loving nieces and nephews and many other loving relatives.  He was preceded in death by his father, Merrill Borgman and his maternal and paternal grandparents.

John attended school in Coos Bay and Oregon City where he was part of the Diving Team and played football.  As a young boy John was involved with Scouts, starting as a Cub Scout, advancing to Order of The Arrow, that recognizing those who exemplify Scouting's values and with his church pastor, Malcolm Turkington, reach for the Eagle Scout.  John joined the US Army and attended basic training in Fort Hood, Louisiana, alongside of his step-father Robert, he joined the National Guard, he worked as a chef in 4 star restaurants and the Alaska Pipeline then worked many years in HVAC.  He was accomplished in martial arts and was an avid golfer.



When those you love die, the best you can do is honor their spirit for as long as you live. You make a commitment that you're going to take whatever lesson that person or animal was trying to teach you, and you make it true in your own life... It's a positive way to keep their spirit alive in the world, by keeping it alive in yourself. ~  Patrick Swayze