John and the former Virginia Valli were married June 22, 1963, in Riverside, Calif. John grew up in Warsaw and moved to California in 1961. He graduated from Warsaw High School in 1957, earned a bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly, Pomona, and a master’s degree from UCLA. He was a mason contractor in Chico for more than 40 years. He was a 4-H sheep leader for 30 years. Virginia attended Riverside City College and UC Riverside. She has been a medical staff coordinator at local hospitals and Chico Surgery Center. Both are active in their church and enjoy gardening and traveling. They have three children: Nick and Bobbie Merica, Paradise, Calif.; Rick and Melissa Carhart, Chico, Calif.; and Jeff Merica, Chico; and two grandsons. The couple will celebrate with a dinner with family and a cruise to Alaska with a tour to Denali Park.
