BERRES, Colonel John Paul 90, passed quietly on Dec. 14, 2012, at home in Clearwater. Born in Washington, D.C. in May 1922, he enlisted in the army after his third year at Notre Dame, serving in WWII as an infantry squad leader in northern France. After the war and graduating from the University of Detroit, he was commissioned as an officer in 1949, serving his country in Korea as a company commander and in Vietnam as a Mechanized Battalion Commander - where he was awarded his third Combat Infantry Man Badge (CIB). His highly decorated 37 year career culminated as Defense Attaché at the American Embassy in Dublin, Ireland, after which he retired in 1978. His second "career" in Clearwater was committed to civic engagement and leadership, and as an educator through innumerable presentations, writings, & lectures on a wide variety of topics and themes. John was preceded in death by his wife of 44 years, Patti Sawyer Berres of Detroit, MI; by his son, Jimmy (Chris); and by his grandson, Paul Sloan. He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Virginia Berres of Clearwater; and by six children, Muffy Sloan (Ron) of California, Peter Berres of Kentucky, John P. Berres Jr., of Arkansas, Katie Maxham (Steve) of Alabama, Tom Berres of South Carolina, DeeCee Donohue (Daniel) of Oregon; and by his step son, Michael Murphy (Amy) of Atlanta, GA. He is also survived by 18 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. A Funeral mass will be offered on Wednesday, Dec. 19th at 1 pm at Espiritu Santo Church, Safety Harbor. Burial & military honors will be rendered at a future date at Arlington National Cemetery. Sylvan Abbey Funeral Home, Clearwater.
Published in the Tampa Bay Times on December 18, 2012
Published in the Tampa Bay Times on December 18, 2012
BERRES, Colonel John Paul 90, passed quietly on Dec. 14, 2012, at home in Clearwater. Born in Washington, D.C. in May 1922, he enlisted in the army after his third year at Notre Dame, serving in WWII as an infantry squad leader in northern France. After the war and graduating from the University of Detroit, he was commissioned as an officer in 1949, serving his country in Korea as a company commander and in Vietnam as a Mechanized Battalion Commander - where he was awarded his third Combat Infantry Man Badge (CIB). His highly decorated 37 year career culminated as Defense Attaché at the American Embassy in Dublin, Ireland, after which he retired in 1978. His second "career" in Clearwater was committed to civic engagement and leadership, and as an educator through innumerable presentations, writings, & lectures on a wide variety of topics and themes. John was preceded in death by his wife of 44 years, Patti Sawyer Berres of Detroit, MI; by his son, Jimmy (Chris); and by his grandson, Paul Sloan. He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Virginia Berres of Clearwater; and by six children, Muffy Sloan (Ron) of California, Peter Berres of Kentucky, John P. Berres Jr., of Arkansas, Katie Maxham (Steve) of Alabama, Tom Berres of South Carolina, DeeCee Donohue (Daniel) of Oregon; and by his step son, Michael Murphy (Amy) of Atlanta, GA. He is also survived by 18 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. A Funeral mass will be offered on Wednesday, Dec. 19th at 1 pm at Espiritu Santo Church, Safety Harbor. Burial & military honors will be rendered at a future date at Arlington National Cemetery. Sylvan Abbey Funeral Home, Clearwater.
Published in the Tampa Bay Times on December 18, 2012
Published in the Tampa Bay Times on December 18, 2012
Gravesite Details
Interred September 30, 2013
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