John Mire "Jack" Jolissaint, Jr.

"John Mire Jolissaint Jr. (Jack), Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army (Retired), passed away on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at his home in Baton Rouge with his family at his side. He was 70 years old, and was born in Washington D.C. on July 8, 1947. He was the son of John M. and Joyce Lacy Jolissaint of Baton Rouge. Having traveled the world with his military parents and siblings, Jack attended 9 different primary and secondary schools. He was a decorated Boy Scout, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout in August 1961. He graduated from Vanden High School, Travis Air Force Base, in Fairfield, CA, in 1965. He attended and graduated from LSU where he was a 4-year ROTC cadet and served as the Army ROTC Cadet Colonel his senior year. He obtained a B.S. in Mathematics from LSU, and a M.A. in Management from Oklahoma University. He was commissioned a Regular Army Second Lieutenant of Field Artillery in August 1969. Jack was an Airborne Ranger, an accomplishment for which he was very proud. In September, 1971, Jack deployed to Da Nang, South Vietnam, and was assigned to Military Assistance Command V Team 1 (September 1971-August 1972). He served as Deputy Senior Advisor to a South Vietnamese gun battalion. He graduated from the Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in December 1981. His distinguished 23 year military career included Battery Command, B Battery, 3d Battalion, 79th Field Artillery Regiment, 42d Field Artillery Group, V Corps Artillery, U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR) in Giessen, Germany; Battalion Command of the 1st Battalion, 38th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division Artillery, 2nd Infantry Division, Uijeongbu, South Korea; command of the 2nd Battalion, 32d Field Artillery Regiment, 42d Field Artillery Brigade, V Corps Artillery, USAREUR in Giessen Germany, and Battalion Command of the Kansas City, Missouri Recruiting Battalion. He retired from the Army in June 1992. His awards and decorations include the U.S. Army Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal for Distinguished Service in Combat, the Meritorious Service Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star, the Republic of Vietnam Honor Medal First Class, the U.S. Army Ranger Tab, the Army Parachutist Badge, and the Order of Saint Barbara Medal for Distinguished Field Artillery Soldiers. Jack was inducted into the LSU ROTC Cadets of the Ole War Skule Hall of Honor in November 2013. In addition, he belonged to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) after retirement. In 1993, Jack and his family returned to Baton Rouge where he served in Human Resource positions with various Louisiana State government agencies. Jack was an active member of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church. He was a member and Financial Secretary for Knights of Columbus Council 969. He actively served as a Eucharistic Minister, a lector, and a generous volunteer. Jack was also a longtime annual participant at Manresa. Jack is survived by his beloved wife of almost 46 years (5 days short) Anne Marie Walkey Jolissaint; a daughter, Michelle Jolissaint Flores and her daughter, Pilar, of Victoria, TX; a daughter Suzanne Jolissaint Lanzano and her husband, Ray, of Enfield, CT; and a daughter Emily Jolissaint Lewis and her husband, Jared, and their children Ella, Lily, Evan and a soon-to-be granddaughter of Baton Rouge, LA. He is also survived by his siblings Bev and Norm Schultz of Niceville, FL; Pam and Bill Delaune of Prairieville, LA; Dr. Steve and Kamille Jolissaint of Colleyville, TX; and Dr. Greg and Debby Jolissaint of Woodstock, MD. He is also survived by numerous loving cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends. Jack was preceded in death by his parents John M. Sr., and Joyce Lacy Jolissaint. Visitation will be held at Rabenhorst East Funeral Home at 11000 Florida Blvd. on Friday, August 4th, from 5-9 p.m. A special rosary will be led by the Knights of Columbus at 7 p.m. Visitation will resume at 9 a.m., Saturday, August 5th, at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, 445 Marquette Avenue, followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. with military honors. A private military burial service will be held at a later date at The Louisiana National Cemetery in Zachary, LA. Pallbearers will be Josef Jolissaint (godson), Stephen L. Jolissaint, Jr. (godson), Dr. Steve Jolissaint, Dr. Greg Jolissaint, Johnny Lacy (cousin), and Larry Wzorek (dear friend). Honorary Pallbearers will be Ray Lanzano (son-in-law), Jared Lewis (son-in-law), Evan Ross Lewis (grandson), and Jim Blouin (U.S. Army "Battle Buddy" and friend). In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the "Traditions for Tomorrow Campaign" at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, 445 Marquette Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70806. The family would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to the GI Clinic staff at The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN; Dr. Shaun Accardo; Dr. Charles Wood; Dr. Vince Cataldo; all the staff at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center; and to Amedisys Home Health and Hospice, with a very special thanks to Angela Russell for her kindness, candor and compassion.