More detail on this person: Quesenberry, John
Robert 10/20/1943 ~ 07/16/ 2015 SAN DIEGO --
John Quesenberry, athlete, solider, pilot,
husband, father, and friend died in the company of
his wife, Josie Quesenberry, in the early hours of
July 16th, after spending the previous day
surrounded by friends and family who loved him.
John was born at the Naval Hospital in San
Bernardino, October 20th, 1943. The son of a US
Naval Officer and Doctor, James T. Quesenberry
and a bank administrator, Nell Currence. He grew
up in San Diego's Crown Point neighborhood and
Pacific Beach. An only child and raised largely by
his mother and uncle, after his parents divorced,
he found passion in surfing and playing sports. He
was a multi-year letterman at Mission Bay High
School, inducted in MBHS' inaugural hall of fame
class, in 1991. After graduating from Mission Bay
in 1961, John attended San Diego State University,
then enlisted in the United States Army in 1962,
where he found his calling and dedicated himself.
John quickly moved from enlisted to commissioned
officer. On becoming a Lieutenant, he went to
flight school in Germany, learning to fly both
fixed wing airplanes and helicopters. While
stationed in Kitzingen, Germany, John met Heidi
Henning who married him, and was his anchor
through 39 years of marriage, until her death in
2004. Shortly, after finishing flight school and
helicopter training, he was sent to Vietnam on the
first of his three tours in Southeast Asia, as an
advisor to the South Vietnamese Air Force. Upon
returning, he was quickly redeployed with the
newly formed 187th Attack Helicopter Co. and
served with distinction and valor, receiving many
commendations including the Distinguished Flying
Cross and the Bronze Star. John spent 26 years in
the Army before his retirement as a Lieutenant
Colonel in 1986, commanding different units such
as the 155th Attack Helicopter Company in Ft. Ord
and the TRADOC flight detachment at Joint base
Langley - Eustis, VA. Upon retirement from the
Army, he entered the aerospace industry, first
working with Cubic Corporation, before co-founding
a private company to represent specialty firms, as
a manufacturer's representative. After Heidi's
death, he entered retirement permanently, and
focused his efforts on volunteering for his fellow
soldiers benefit, helping found a non-profit for
veterans and the University City Racquet Club, for
which he served as a board member and other
capacities. It was then, that John met Josie and
soon after married her. They were constant
companions and ever present, one with the other.
They traveled the world together and spent time
with friends, creating a welcoming space for
others to enjoy time with them. Social to the end,
it was these friends that were with him in his
last hours; some that knew him for over 65 years.
John is survived by his love, Josie, his children
Caroline, Christopher and Mark and 10
grandchildren, as well as his beloved nieces
Katrin and Michan and nephew Florian, and their
children. We can remember him and honor him, by
his final words, "I love you". Memorial Mass at
Our Mother of Confidence, 3131 Governor Drive,
San Diego, CA 92122 at 11:00AM on July 31st with
interment at Miramar National Military Cemetery,
5795 Nobel Drive, San Diego, CA 92122 at 1:30PM
Donations can be made to the 187th fund, in his
name: http://www.187thahc. net/Fund/fund.htm
Published in The San Diego Union Tribune on July
30, 2015
This information was last updated 02/21/2015
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