WI Guard Retiree News & Info Update

Passing of a Guardsman

 

Dr. John A. Palese

 

Colonel, Medical Corps, USA (ret.)

World War II

Korean War

57th FA, Brigade Surgeon, WI ARNG

 

Passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Monday November 7, 2016 at the age of 93. Beloved husband of the late Dolores (nee Szymarek) and the late Stefanie (nee Spolowicz). Loving father of John “Jay” (Angie), Lisa (Paul) Leister, Sarah (Jeff) Thomson, Linda (Alan) Baker and Luke (Enrique Useche-Andueza). Dear grandfather of Rachel (Patrick) Drayna, Christopher (Shannon), Catherine, and John Palese, III (fiancée Ashley Faber), Melissa and Courtney Leister, Jaryd and Ryan (Chyna) Thomson, and Jeremy (Keri) and Nicholas (fiancée Heather Hanney) Baker. Great-grandfather of Charlie and Willie Drayna, and Easton and Claire Baker. Preceded in death by his brother Anthony “Tony” M. Palese. Also survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends, and longtime friend Flora Grasman.

 

He was born January 3, 1923 in Chicago, the eldest of two children to Antonio and Maria Asunda (Susan Mary Rich) Palese. John attended Dante Elementary School and graduated from Crane Technical High School.

 

John came from a humble background, his father was a barber and his mother took in other people’s laundry. His family also took in and raised two other children from the neighborhood whose parents were not able to care for them.

 

John understood the value of a dollar and the benefits of hard work; he and his brother Tony used to shine shoes for $0.03 a pair. John then worked in a fruit and vegetable stand for $0.25 per week plus all the fruit and veggies he could eat. He also worked in a candy factory.

 

After high school graduation, John attended Chicago’s Herzl City Junior College where he studied pre-med and played baseball until he was drafted into the Army during World War II. The Army recognized John’s intellect and abilities promoting him to Technical Corporal and assigning him to the Army Specialized Training Program, which sent him to the University of South Dakota in Vermillion to complete his undergraduate degree and then on to the Medical School at the University of Wisconsin, Madison – John was part of the Army’s plan to care for the horrendous number of casualties expected from the invasion of mainland Japan.

 

John graduated with a Doctor of Medicine Degree from the UW Madison Medical School in 1948 and shortly thereafter re-entered the US Army where he was assigned to the Army Medical Corps as a Medical Officer in the Panama Canal Zone. He often spoke of being the only Officer on the Army’s Baseball team in the Canal Zone and of listening to WGN radio in the evenings to feel closer to Caution-home.

 

Shortly after North Korea invaded South Korea, John was reassigned from his Medical Officer position to be the Battalion Surgeon for the 3rd Battalion, 65th Infantry, The Borinqueneers.

 

In August 1950, his unit was deployed from the Panama Canal Zone to Korea. In September 1950, John entered combat in Korea and remained in combat until October 1951, when his Korean War tour of duty ended.

 

His unit fought their way North to rescue the Marines who were trapped by the communist chinese at the Chosin Reservoir. For those not familiar, the Battalion Surgeon serves in the front lines with the infantry. The wounded were evacuated from John’s Battalion Aid Station to the MASH unit via helicopter or a rear area hospital by ground ambulance, as their condition dictated.

 

After the Chosin Reservoir fight, his unit was extracted from the combat area by sea. John was the last man to leave the beach – he would not leave while any of the wounded under his care remained on the beach. For this, John was awarded the Bronze Star.

 

John recently traveled to Washington DC where he and the Borinqueneers, the 65th Infantry, were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for their Korean War service and sacrifice.

 

After his Korean service, John moved to Milwaukee to begin his civilian medical career at Deaconess Hospital, where he met his wife Dolores. John was employed by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company in Chicago in his first specialty, Preventive Medicine. John loved being a Medical Doctor and detective, figuring out how and why people were getting ill or injured on the job and then eliminating the problem. John was also an Associate Professor of Medicine in Preventive Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

 

In 1967, as a result of Dolores contracting cancer, John took a position with St. Luke’s Hospital in Milwaukee as the Director of Medical Education, so he was in a work environment better suited to caring for Dolores and their 5 children. At St Luke’s, John was responsible for the selection and training of interns and residents.

 

While at St. Luke’s, John started the St. Luke’s Family Practice Program; the beginning of a family practice specialty.

 

During his 66 years of practicing medicine, as a Military Doctor, in Preventive Medicine, as a General Practitioner, or Family Practitioner, overriding any particular specialty, was his deep desire to help all individuals, especially those whom he believed to be most in need. Not only did John actually make house calls, he devoted one day per week making house calls for the Milwaukee County Welfare Department, where he made $3.00 per house call.

 

During his years of semi-retirement, John attended the Milwaukee Brewers Fantasy Camp many times, beginning at age 75. His last fantasy camp was attended at age 85!

 

John recently (and reluctantly) retired from a part-time practice of Medicine at the age of 92. To say John loved medicine would be the understatement of the last two centuries.

 

There is only one thing John loved more and did better than being a physician; John was a devoted father and grandpa. He raised his 5 children, ranging in age from 6 to 17, as a single parent after the death of his wife Dolores in 1973.

 

He also cherished his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews and many friends. He prioritized spending time and recognizing special occasions with them. John had an amazing sense of humor, which never left him during his most trying times. He had the ability to connect with people, whatever their personalities or walks of life. While on this Earth, he did not squander his time—he possessed a love of life, love of country, love of family and mankind. He had a great life and anyone who knew him was enriched by him. We will dearly miss his spunk and joyful spirit and all of us are richer for Johns’ presence among us and poorer for his passing. Truly you could say John did not come to be served, but to serve.

 

Visitation at the funeral home Friday, Nov. 11, 2016 from 4-7 PM, with a funeral service at 7 PM. Visitation at the funeral home also on Saturday from 9:30-10:30 AM, followed by a procession to St. Adalbert Cemetery for interment and Military Honors.

 

Military, law enforcement and Brewer’s Fantasy Campers are encouraged to wear their uniforms.

 

In lieu of flowers, donations appreciated: 1) Herma Heart Center at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, or 2) Stars and Stripes Honor Flight, or 3) Luekemia and Lymphoma Society.

 

Caution-http://foresthomefunerals.com/obituaries/dr-john-palese/