Hero in the Vietnam War – Doctor of Sheep Dip – Beloved Husband & Father
John Rogers Riffle (“Roger”) was born on November 29, 1943 in Lubbock, Texas and died, with his wife Fran at his side, on August 25th, 2017 in Reno, NV.
He had 73 laugh filled years, and managed to lead a quintessential American life. He graduated from Serra High School in San Mateo, California in 1961, and the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana in 1965.
He was the first in his family to graduate from college. While in college, he joined R.O.T.C. and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the infantry upon graduation from Notre Dame.
He attended Airborne School in Fort Benning, Georgia, later in 1965 and was sent to Vietnam in 1966. He became a First Lieutenant in the First Air Cavalry at the height of the Vietnam War.
During his year in Vietnam, he was awarded the Air Medal, a bronze star with a V for valor, and a Silver Star for bravery in action, and was wounded in battle. The citation, which accompanied the Silver Star, described his actions in leading his platoon out of a Viet Kong ambush as “demonstrating unimpeachable gallantry by examples of fearless courage.”
Upon his return to civilian life, he attended the University of Oregon to obtain his Masters of Business Administration.
In the midst of the many protests against the Vietnam War that were then racking that campus, he organized a group of veterans to argue that protests against the War should not be directed at the Americans who were called to fight it.
After obtaining his M.B.A. - Roger worked in Hawaii and didn't mind jumping into the ocean every afternoon.
He went to San Francisco looking for a job. He met and fell in love with Franny Stratford. They were married in that romantic city.
They had two wonderful sons, Rex & Randy, both of whom now live in Seattle.
In 1976 Roger was the first employee of Yellow Freight System and got their terminal off the ground.
Roger, who had a well-honed sense of comedy and irony, was soon attracted to Sheep Dip, the annual fundraiser for the Reno Ad Council. For over 40 years he acted, directed and produced the show, delighting audiences with his razor sharp wit that spared no public official. He never took himself too seriously, and certainly had fun lampooning politicians who did.
He was Reno’s biggest Notre Dame fan, never missing a football game or an opportunity to discuss their newest football recruits. On days that Notre Dame won – he would let everyone know that “all was right with the world”. Go Irish!
Roger is survived by his wife of 45 years, Fran, and his two sons, Rex (Millissa) and Randy (Christina), and grandsons, Baker, Brady, Tucker and Stratford whom he loved dearly. He leaves his brothers Chuck (Nancy) and Ed (Laura), and his sister, Jeanne. He also leaves his lifelong friends, Ken Rank, and Phil Youker, who both were born on the same day as Roger in the same year.
A Memorial Mass and celebration of Roger's life will be on September 8, 2017 at St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral in Reno, NV at 10:00 am. Please send contributions to St Vincent's Food Pantry. Roger will be proudly laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C.

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