Born Lem Buck Sing to Lem Sing and Eng Toy at the Waldo General hospital in Seattle, Washington on
June 9th 1948.
A marine and veteran of the Vietnam War, he received the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam
Campaign Medal with Device, Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with Four Stars, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Combat Action Ribbon, Rifle Expert Badge, Pistol Sharpshooter Badge, Purple Heart and the Meritorious Mast.
He was a stoic, quiet man, but he had many loves. He loved model airplanes, cars, boats, submarines. He
loved scuba and guns and military books. He loved animals, his dogs, Yukon and Boe. On June 30th 1984 he married Jennifer Sinclair Rust. He loved her above all else.
He was so much to so many. A son, a brother, an uncle, a husband, a father, a grandfather, and Gramps. He is remembered for holding our hands when we needed to be held, and for letting us go to learn to stand on our own. He is remembered for the lessons he taught us, the roots of which are planted firmly in the family he helped grow.
His silence was loud. His presence filled the room. He walked in grace. When his wife Jennifer passed away, he played the song "I've Got Sunshine on a Cloudy Day." Jennifer was his sunshine. I hope he knew that he too shone brightly.
To everything there is a season and time to every purpose. His time was called May 5th, 2018. As we mourn your passing we celebrate the moments and memories you gave us.
Thank you for the sunshine
John was survived by his daughters Elysha Mettlin and her husband Rory and Tristyn Gordon, his grandchildren Sarah Robbins and her husband Neil, Rachael Couture and her husband Kyle, Dylan Fisher, Gina and Alex Couture, Ethan and Anastacia Mettlin. His great‐grandchildren Liam, Aliscia, Aislinn, Juniper, Kallen and Zayden, his sister Su Yin Lin, his nephews John and Jimmy Chen, Allan and Henry Lem, his nieces Diane Amado, Julie Sia, Connie Lem, and Janet Weeks.
Services will be held on Friday June 1, 12:30 P.M.Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington
https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/tahoma.asp
A wake will be held following the service at the home of Elysha & Rory Mettlin
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