John William Nolan

John William Nolan, Sr. passed away peacefully at his home in Fort Wayne, IN on the afternoon of February 6, 2026. John was born on January 18,1930 in Brooklyn, NY to Mary Roche Buckley and William Joseph Nolan. He grew up in New York City’s Bronx and Manhattan boroughs.

Raised by paternal grandmother Mary Ann Morrin Nolan during the Great Depression along with two (2) siblings, sister Marion and brother Joseph, John went to work at age thirteen (13) delivering meat for a local butcher to help support his grandmother, himself and his siblings.

John refined the strong work ethic that eventually “trademarked” him by continuing his nearly full-time delivery job throughout his mid-teens to, among other things, earn the tuition necessary to attend the prestigious New York Catholic high school, LaSalle Academy in Manhattan. While at LaSalle, John excelled as a track athlete whenever he could find the time to compete.

John enlisted in the United States Marines shortly after his 1948 graduation from LaSalle Academy. A Marine reservist, John was called to serve his country during its early 1950’s conflict with North Korea and China.

Always leading, rarely following, Staff Sergeant John W. Nolan led a nine (9) Marine detail on a snowy November morning in 1951 with orders to truck food, mortars, machine guns and ammunition to a forward Marine Rifle Company occupying a strategic defensive position near Korea’s Wachon Reservoir. While enroute, Sergeant Nolan’s detail “… observed a superior enemy force advancing on an exposed flank of his Company and his Battalion Command Post.”

John’s citation that November day for “VALOR” under fire, as signed by Major General Edwin A. Pollock, the “COMMANDING GENERAL” of the United States “SECOND MARINE DIVISION”, reads as follows: “[Sergeant Nolan] immediately deployed the personnel [and weapons] under his command into defensive positions between his Company and the enemy force. Sergeant Nolan and his men held those positions [by running to and from each gun and mortar placement for nearly twenty-six (26) hours, confusing the enemy, and creating the illusion of a larger United States force] until the enemy withdrew and his unit was relieved. During this action, Sergeant Nolan repeatedly exposed himself to enemy weapons fire.”

John was subsequently [14 September 1952] awarded the “Bronze Star” for his actions on 04 November 1951. Marine Corps Lt. Colonel L. J. Spurlock wrote five (5) days later in his “Navy Commendation Medal” citation that John and the men under his command arguably saved the lives of many United States Marines that day.

Following his time in the service, John worked for General Foods as a baker. While working full time, John completed his undergraduate studies at Rutgers University and later, an MBA at Farleigh Dickinson. He had a successful thirty-five (35) year career at Yegen Associates, Inc. until retiring as the President of Yegen’s Integrity Insurance subsidiary in 1990.

After losing his beloved wife, Marlene, in 1989, he married Barbara Lasher in December 1991, and shortly thereafter relocated to Port St. Lucie, Florida. John enjoyed golfing, cruising and serving on the neighborhood security patrol. He also enjoyed watching PGA golf, college and NFL football on television.

John is survived by his children: John William Nolan, Jr. (Karen) of Fort Wayne, IN and Marianne Hinkhouse of Burlington, CO; stepdaughter Barbara Jean Toepert (Glenn) of Waldwick, NJ; eight grandchildren; Justin Nolan (Angela), Gregory Nolan (Julie), Sean Nolan (Kayla), Alec Nolan, Christopher Hinkhouse, and Kathryn Hinkhouse; step grandsons, Michael Toepert and Joseph Toepert; and his sole great grand-child, Ms. Riley Hinkhouse of Denver, CO.

He was predeceased in life by first wife Marlene McDonald (39 years), second wife Barbara Lasher (30 years), and grandson Matthew Hinkhouse.

In lieu of flowers, John’s family requests that donations be made to the United States Marines Corp “Toys for Tots” program during the coming 2026 Christmas season.