ARRL Life Member and past ARRL Louisiana Section Manager John M. “Wondy” Wondergem, K5KR, of Metairie, Louisiana, died June 7. He was 91. A retired US Navy captain and World War II veteran, Wondergem in May of 1962 was at the controls of the helicopter that retrieved Astronaut Scott Carpenter after his Project Mercury Aurora 7 space capsule splashed down some 250 miles off course in the Atlantic.

Wondergem served as the ARRL Louisiana Section Manager from 1984 until 1992.

Wondergem was on the DXCC Honor Roll with 350 entities (mixed) and 339 confirmed on RTTY. He was a member of the Delta DX Association and served three separate terms as its president. He also belonged to the Jefferson Amateur Radio Club and the ARRL A-1 Operators Club. Survivors include his wife, Shirley, N5GGO.