Obituary of John F. Fiester

JOHN F. "JACK" FIESTER Age 89 of Horseheads, NY passed away on Sunday April 22, 2018 at the Chemung County Nursing Facility. Jack, born in Altoona, Pennsylvania on November 20, 1928, was predeceased by his parents, Ritner I. Fiester and Margaret Lucile McNamara Fiester, his brother, William R. Fiester and a sister, Eleanor L. Fiester Moses. Jack is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Joyce A. Appleton Fiester, children Carolyn (Robert) Draht, Susan Jandrew, David Fiester, and Christine (Thomas) MacDonald, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Additionally, Jack is survived by a sister, Janet L. (Robert) Sipes of Altoona, Pennsylvania, several nieces, nephews, and their children and grandchildren, many of them still living in the Altoona area. An Army Veteran of the Korean War, Jack served in Japan and Korea between 1950 and 1952, earning the rank of Sergeant. Jack was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal with 1 Bronze Service Star, the United Nations Service Medal, and a Purple Heart. In June 2015, Jack and his daughter Carolyn participated in the Twin Tiers Honor Flight bus trip to Washington DC to tour the World War II Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Arlington National Cemetery and the Korean War Memorial. Earlier in April, Jack was presented with a "Quilt of Valor" from the Southern Tier chapter whose mission is "to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor." In the early 50's, Jack moved from Altoona to the Elmira area for employment at the Artistic Card Company and then for Hardinge Inc. where he worked for 37 years, retiring in January, 1991. Jack and Joyce enjoyed road trips on their candy-apple red Honda Goldwing motorcycle; to Virginia, to Myrtle Beach, Georgia and Florida. Nearly every summer weekend the family enjoyed camping, progressing from a tent, to a 25 foot travel trailer. When Jack and Joyce moved to Florida, first as "snow-birds," then as residents of a community in Tavares, Jack exchanged his Goldwing for an electric golf cart. They value the many good friends they met in Florida playing Euchre, bowling, and gathering for Wednesday Morning Coffee at the Clubhouse. His love of trains took him to the Horseshoe Curve in Pennsylvania and the model railroad museum in Greeley, Colorado. Re-doing the kitchen, building a garage, re-roofing and finishing the 2nd floor of the house into a 2 bedroom, full bath were just a few of his completed honey do's. Family and friends are invited to call at the LYNCH FUNERAL HOME at 318 WEST BROAD STREET HORSEHEADS, NY on Wednesday April 25, 2018 from 4 - 6 PM to remember and honor Jack. Jack's Funeral Services will be held at the conclusion of calling hours at 6 PM. He will be laid to rest in Maple Grove Cemetery in Horseheads, NY where Full Military Honors will be accorded Mr. Fiester. A very special "Thank You" to the kind and patient second-floor staff at the Chemung County Nursing Facility and the caring nurses at the Ivy 2 Davita Dialysis Unit. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Twin Tiers Honor Flight at http://twintiershonorflight.org/ or to a local charity of your choice. Words of comfort and Memories may be shared at www.lynchsfuneralhome.com.