John Lawrence Cereghin, of Smyrna, died on Sunday May 11, 2014. He was 78. Mr. Cereghin was born September 16, 1935 in Chicago, IL, son of the late Wilfred and Nora Cereghin, but he spent his younger years in Defiance, Ohio. Mr. Cereghin was retired from the U.S. Air Force where he spent 22 years, serving in Japan, Europe, Greenland, Newfoundland, Vietnam, Ohio, Alabama, Idaho, Virginia, Texas, Washington, D.C., and Maryland. Following his retirement from the Air Force in 1976, he worked as a physician's assistant at the Perry Point Veterans Hospital, Perry Point, Maryland, until he retired in 1990. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1974. Mr. Cereghin was also a champion amateur boxer during his youth and while in the Air Force. He was a Golden Gloves Champion, National AAU champion; All Air Force champion; Interservice champion, and the military CISM (military Olympics) Champion. He also greatly enjoyed hunting and golfing. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Gladys Lawrence Cereghin, of Smyrna; a son and daughter-in-law, Rev. John P. and Teresa Cereghin, of Smyrna; four grandchildren; Patrick; Jennifer; Andrew; and Daniel, all of Smyrna; one sister, Barbara Walker; three brothers, James J., Leonard N., and Mike Cereghin. Services will be held 11:00 AM Friday May 16 at Matthews-Bryson Funeral Home, 123 W. Commerce St., Smyrna, where friends may call Thursday evening from 7-9:00 PM and also at 10:00 AM Friday. Burial with military honors will be 11:00 AM Monday May 19 at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Newark, DE. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Grace Baptist Church, PO Box 66, Smyrna, DE 19977. To sign the online guestbook, please visit www.matthewsbryson.com. Arrangements are by Matthews-Bryson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Smyrna.