John “Jack” Frank Mootz of Callicoon Center, NY, the owner of Mootz Well Drilling and Water System, died Saturday, August 10, 2024 at home.  He was 76. 

The son of the late Gerald and Alice Wagner Mootz, he was born July 18, 1948 in Callicoon, NY.

Jack attended Jeffersonville Youngsville Central School.  He was drafted into the US Army, where he served in Vietnam from 1968-1970, and received a Purple Heart.  He was a proud member of the 101st Airborne “Screaming Eagles!”  During the Oil Boom in the late 1970s, he moved his family to Wyoming where he worked on an oil rig known as the “worm” and worked his way to being a driller while running his own crew.  Eventually, he moved his family back to New York where he started his own business, Mootz Well Drilling and Water System.  He ran the business for 30 years until his retirement.

Jack was a member of the Callicoon Center Fire Department for over 50 years, where he was a past chief and commissioner.  He was a member of the Allan Milk Memorial VFW Post 7276 and was the 2011 Town of Callicoon Marshall for the Annual Fremont Center Memorial Day Parade. 

Jack was an avid sportsman and loved cruising on his Harley Sportster.  He spent many years traveling New York with his modified pulling tractor “Dig ‘Em” and won many tractor pulls.

Survivors include his wife, Cindy Mootz, of Callicoon Center, NY; his children, Christina Hawkins and her husband Greg of North Clarendon, VT, Melissa Jacobson of Callicoon Center, NY, Jackie Mootz and her husband Adam of Livingston Manor, NY, and Stephen Mootz of Callicoon Center, NY; Jack was blessed with seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; his brother, Gerald “Skip” Mootz and his wife Patricia; his sister, Susan Naughton and her husband Danny; and his aunt, Joy Klemm and her husband John.  Jack was predeceased by his parents; a brother, Dennis Mootz; a sister, Denise Mootz; his son-in-law Jeffery Jacobson; and his grandson, Brian Stauch, Jr.

Dignified cremation is being provided by Harris Crematorium, LLC.

Graveside services with military honors and burial will be Wednesday, September 4, 2024 at 10 AM in the Sullivan County Veteran’s Cemetery, Sunset Lake Road, Liberty, NY.

Memorial contributions in Jack’s name may be made to The Fischer House Foundation, 301-294-8560 or fisherhouse.org.  This organization builds comfort homes where military and veteran families can stay free of charge while a loved one is in the hospital.  These homes are located at military and VA Medical Centers around the world.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Harris Funeral Home, Railroad Ave., Roscoe, NY.,  607-498-4929 or 845-439-5200 www.Harris-FH.com