John Edward Deist III, age 44, of Manhattan, Kansas, passed away suddenly on November 11, 2023.
Born in Hutchinson, Kansas on September 2, 1979 to John Edward and Catherine Jean (Hall) Deist, Jr.; both precede him in death. While the Deist family moved a few times during John's pre-teen and teenage years, the majority of his growing years were in Sterling, Kansas. A high school graduate of Sterling High, John ran cross country and track and his senior year, he was known to be running with flaming orange hair. Upon graduation, John joined the United States Army with his eyes on a career in Intelligence.
Over the next twenty-one years, John was deployed to Korea, Egypt and Djibouti and served five tours in the Iraq War. His last deployment was in Frankfurt, Germany where he retired at his goal as a Sergeant Major. Among his decorated awards during his time in the Army are the bronze service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal.
John was most proud to be a father. Married twice, first to Rochelle Ratto; they were parents to two children, Aidan and Reagan. Rochelle precedes John in death. John's second marriage was to Jessica Harris. John loved animals and leaves behind his cat George, who returned home with John from his deployment in Germany, and puppy, Petunia.
Surviving John are his children, Aidan Deist and Reagan Deist; his maternal grandparents, Walter and Glenna Hall of Mesa, Arizona; six siblings, Jeffrey Deist (wife Wendy), Elizabeth Dietz (wife Kara), Emma Deist Vaughn, Patricia Deist Williams (husband Gary), Jennifer Deist Weber, and Butch Deist; many nieces and nephews, Aunts and cousins; and his partner, Nancy Brown.
John is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, John and Phyllis (Baldwin) Deist, Sr., of Sterling, Kansas.
A memorial service will be held for John on March 8, 2024 at 10 a.m. in Manhattan, Kansas, at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home. Inurnment with military honors will follow at the Kansas Veterans Cemetery at Fort Riley in Manhattan.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the ASPCA in his honor. Contributions may be sent in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.