Major John Perry Galassie, Sr., USAF Ret.

Major John Perry Galassie, Sr., USAF Retired, passed away Thursday, December 20, 2012. He was 71.

John was born November 3, 1941, a son of Phillip Galassie, Sr. and LyLase Voit Galassie. He was raised and educated in Menasha, Wisconsin. As a young man, John did all the traditional boy things. He was a mass server, a Boy Scout; he played baseball, and had a paper route. John was very interested in music and in his school''s marching band, culminating as band''s Drum Major while a Senior at St. Mary''s High School. John enlisted in the Air Force in 1960. His many and varied assignments took him all over the United States a€" Texas, Alabama, Illinois, Ohio., South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Colorado, and Utah.

John married Dorothy Bristol and they had two children.

At the height of the Vietnam War, John served in Southeast Asia a€" in 1968 and 1969 at Takhli and Thailand as a lab tech/chopper medic, often performing basic medical lifesaving and ferrying the wounded back from the jungle. Shortly after his return to the US, John began his Physician''s Assistant training. John accepted a commission as a Captain in 1978, this after having achieved the Air Force''s highest non-commissioned officer''s rank of Chief Master Sergeant. He then accepted the commission of Major in 1986. After retiring from the Air Force in 1990, John took a management position with Bayer Corporation, a blood plasma facility and later, returned to patient care at the Occupational Medicine Clinic at his last civilian assignment, Hill Air Force Base.

John earned a Bachelor''s degree from the University of Nebraska in 1976. He was a member o the American Association of Physicians Assistants, Utah Academy of Physicians Assistants, the American Legion, DAV, and the VFW. His military awards include: Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Force Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and V for Valor and the Vietnam Service Medal.

His concern for homeless and abandoned dogs and cats was evidenced by the many pets who found their way into his life and love. John''s warmth and sense of humor endured to the end. Though he struggled with ill health in the latter years of his life, he overcame every obstacle with an indefatigable spirit. A man of great character a€" and who was a real character a€" John had a large circle of friends, whom he loved and respected. He loved a good joke and used humor with skill and gusto. He was an astute student of popular culture and had a passion for science fiction/fantasy stories. John was an exceptional student of military history. He had a deep affection for his siblings, but above all, he was interested in every person he met and generously helped untold numbers along their way in life. John was a dedicated husband and father and played an influential role in his family''s lives, which we have no doubt will continue. He loved his wife, children, grandchildren, and other family deeply and fondly.

Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Dorothy (Bristol) Galassie, Roy, UT; a son, John Galassie, Jr, Fresno, CA; a daughter, Angelina (Brett) Barton, West Haven, UT; two graddaughters, Ashley and Keirsten Barton, West Haven, UT; one grandson, Lukas Galassie, Fresno, CA; two brothers, Philip (Diann Tischer) Galassie, Janesville, WI; David (Teresa Barnett) Galassie, Columbia, SC; and a sister, Mary (Ken) Fritsch, Appleton, WI.

He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant sister.

Memorial services will be held at a later date.

Interment, Arlington National Cemetery. Arrangement entrusted to Lindquist''s Roy Mortuary.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the George E. Wahlen Ogden Veterans Home, 1102 North 1200 West, Ogden, Utah 84404.