John Vessey, Jr

John William Vessey, Jr. born June 29, 1922, a retired Army General who was the nation's top military officer as the tenth chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1982 to 1985, died the 18th day of August, 2016 in North Oaks, Minnesota at the age of 94.

When he retired in 1985 at the age of 63, General Vessey was the longest serving active duty member in the United States Army. He began his 46-year military career enlisting in the Minnesota National Guard in 1939 when he was still 17. He received a battlefield commission during the Battle of Anzio in World War II. General Vessey also served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

In 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed him as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a position he would hold for over three years. He was the last four star combat veteran of World War II on active service.

After retiring from the Army, President Reagan asked General Vessey to lead the efforts to account for military personnel listed as missing in action from the Vietnam War. As special emissary to three Presidents, he made six trips to Vietnam to negotiate a number of issues with the Vietnamese Government as part of resolving the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue. General Vessey was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992.

He was active in the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod and once considered a career as a minister.

His beloved wife of 69 years, Avis C. Vessey, preceded him in death in 2015. He is survived by his sister, Patricia Vessey of Minneapolis and his children; John William Vessey III (Alida), Sarah Ann Vessey, David Christopher Vessey (Donna); grandchildren, Andrea Novack (Dan), John William Vessey IV, Samuel Vessey Krawczyk and Evan Vessey Krawczyk; great-grandchildren, Callen and Aiden Novack.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Wednesday, August 31, 2016, at the FORT SNELLING MEMORIAL CHAPEL, Hwys. 5 & 55, Fort Snelling, Minnesota with visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment Thursday, September 1, 2016, 1:00 P.M. at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery (Camp Ripley), 15550 Hwy 115, Little Falls, MN.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a contribution to the John and Avis Scholarship at Concordia University, St. Paul (www.csp.edu) or the National Military Families Association at www.militaryfamily.org.

Gen. John "Jack" Vessey was a long time resident of Little Whitefish Lake, Garrison, Minnesota and North Oaks, Minnesota.