OBITUARY | Gen. John Casey

Gen. John Casey, of Bradenton, died Oct. 19.

A Vietnam veteran, he was a senior aviator and parachutist. His distinctions included Legion of Merit with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 23 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnam Service Medal with five Campaign Stars, Senior Army Aviator Badge and numerous other decorations and citations. He retired after 28 years of service.

Following his career in the Army, Gen. Casey moved to Bradenton in 1979 and taught math at Harlee Middle School for 14 years. He was also an active member of the Longboat Island Chapel. He was an avid sailor, who spent many hours on his sailboat, Pegasus. He also loved a day of golf at the Tara Golf & Country Club.

Gen. Casey is survived by his wife, Arlene Casey, of Bradenton; five daughters, Susan Casey, of Florida, Jane Casey, of Bradenton, Shawn Morrison, of Galveston, Texas, Pattie Anderson, of Morristown, N.J., and Regina Kaukereit, of Cary, N.C.; seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren; and many extended family members and friends.

A celebration of his life will be held at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Committal services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 Clark Road, with full military honors by the U.S. Army Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Longboat Island Chapel or Army Emergency Relief Fund, Attn: Donations, 200 Stoval St., Room 5S33, Alexandria, Va. 22332-0600.