John E. Beasley, K4SBI SK Palmer, Alaska, resident John Edmund Beasley, age 86, passed away on May 2, 2018, in Anchorage, Alaska. John was born on March 1, 1932, in Munden, Va., to Wayland and Lessie (Brumley) Beasley. He moved to Alaska in 1968, to work on development of the White Alice system, followed by many years in the telecommunications field culminating with his retirement from ATT-Alascom. John served his country from 1950-1953 in the United States Marine Corp and was a Korean War veteran and survived the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir. He was also the President of the "Chosin Few" organization until his recent passing. He was an avid ham radio operator. He enjoyed boating and snowmachining to the family cabin. The family wrote: "He worked diligently on H.R. 5928, the Mt. Chosin Few Act to establish and name Mt. Chosin Few in the Chugach National Forest as a monument to his fallen brothers and fellow survivors of the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir (November - December 1950). He loved Alaska from the moment he stepped off the plane in 1968. An avid outdoorsman, he loved fishing on Paxon Lake and snowmachining the Big Su and Yentna. He was a great businessman, engineer and wartime story teller; but, he will be remembered most as a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather." John is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Margaret B. Beasley; daughter, Judy Beasley (Frances); daughter, Denise Mackey (Dean); son, John R. Beasley; granddaughter, Bridgett Mackey-Dyson (Jon); granddaughter, Meghan Mackey Renuart (Rob); granddaughter, Sarah Lloyd (Brandon); grandson, Christopher J. Beasley; and great-granddaughters, Peyton and Ellah. Celebration of Life will be held from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 26, 2018, at VFW Post #9365, 301 East Lake View Avenue in Wasilla, Alaska. John's ashes will be laid to rest during a private graveside ceremony at Fort Richardson National Cemetery. Arrangements cared for by Janssen's Mat-Su Funeral Home. Funeral Home Janssen’s Mat-Su Funeral Home 6901 E. Blue Lupine Drive Wasilla, AK 99654 (907) 745-5477 Published in Anchorage Daily News on May 20, 2018 https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/adn/obituary.aspx?n=john-edmund-beasley&pid=189029103&fhid=31830
