John Paul Russo, 83 , of Springfield, passed away on January 31, 2015 at Memorial Medical Center. He was born on August 29, 1931 in Alton, IL., the son of John Arthur and Elsie Webb Russo. John graduated from Alton High School in June 1949 and then enlisted in the U.S. Army in October of the same year.
He took basic training at Ft. Riley, Kansas and then was sent to Ft. Carson, Colorado and in 1951 received his orders to Korea. John spent nine months in Korea in the 7th Inf. Div., and then transferred to Japan for one year in Heavy Mortar Co. 21st Reg. 24th Infantry Division before returning to the United States in May 1953 and served as Battalion Operations Sgt., until his discharge with the rank of Sergeant 1st Class.
John Returned to Alton and worked for Owens Illinois Glass Company for 2 ½ years. In 1955 he enrolled at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale and while attending there he met Virginia Wiley from Anna, IL., and they celebrated 58 years of marriage.
Mr. Russo is survived by two wonderful sons: John William (Zhanna) Russo of Houston, TX., and Larry Jay (Companion Angela Violet) of Chatham, one grandson John Michael (Barbara) of Pearland, TX., and one great grandson John Matthew, identical twin great-granddaughters Sabrina and Savannah Russo of Pearlland, TX., one brother Donald Whipple of Alton, and one sister Vicki (Dan) Swain of Ohio. He was preceded in death by his brother David Whipple.
In 1959 John moved his family to Chicago to work for the U.S. Post Office at Midway Airport and also attended night school to be a Medical Technologist. He enrolled in Northeastern Illinois University in 1975 to complete his B.A. Degree and he worked as a supervisor for several laboratories in the Chicago Area until 1981 when he moved to Springfield. Mr. Russo worked at the Springfield Clinic until 1990 when he was accepted by the State of Illinois as a Laboratory Surveyor (Inspector) until his retirement in 1999.
After retirement John became involved with the Veterans of Foreign Wars as a Life Member and served as Post Commander of Post 10302 for five years. He was selected as an All American Commander and State of Illinois Member of the year 2005-2006. Mr. Russo was also a member of American Legion Post 32, Life Member and past commander of the Korean War Veterans Association Chapter 27, Director of Korean War Memorial Association for the erection of the Korean War Memorial located at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Life member of AMVETS, DAV, and Associate Member of the Vietnam Veterans of America. John worked for the Family Readiness Group by leading in obtaining funds for attorney fees to combat unjust charges against F16 pilots from the 183rd Fighter Wing while flying patrol over Afghanistan.
To all who I wish to call FRIENDS, thank you very much for being my friend, I Love You. To my family and my wonderful wife to whom I owe so much, two extra special sons, and my wonderful grandson and great-grandchildren words cannot express my gratitude for all you have given me.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, February 6, 2015 a Bisch and Son Funeral Home, 505 E. Allen, Springfield, with burial to follow at Camp Butler National Cemetery where Military Honors will be conducted. The family will meet friends from 4 pm to 7 pm on Thursday, February 5, 2015 at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project Fund, PO Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 1000 Dept 142, Memphis, TN 38101-9908 and please visit the online “Life Remembered Story” at www.bischandsonfuneralhome.com.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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