Obituary of John L. Breese

John Lewis Breese Age 91 of Horseheads, NY passed away on Wednesday, August 20, 2014. John was born in Elmira, NY on October 11, 1922, to Cornelia (Banks) and Lamotte Breese. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Paul Breese. John is survived by his wife of almost 68 years, Natalie Dietzel Breese; three children, Scott and (Maureen Ferrell) Breese of Elmira, NY; Bart and Patty (Fitzgerald) Breese and their three daughters, Lisa, Sarah and Amy of Lockport, NY; Lori (Raymond) Cady and their three daughters, Stephanie, Valerie and Melanie of Horseheads, NY. Additionally, John is survived by his sister, Lucy Brisky of Florida; his brother, Harry Breese of Cato, NY; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. John graduated from Southside High School in 1941. He was inducted into the Army Air Corps in February of 1944. He trained to be a Radio Mechanic-Specialist 852 in Madison, Wisconsin; Chanute Field, Illinois; Boca Raton, Florida; and finally in Pueblo, Colorado where he helped to close that base at the end of the war. John was discharged in March of 1946 from Fort Dix, New Jersey and returned home to Elmira. John married his high school sweetheart, Natalie (Dolly) on August 31, 1946. Since John’s family had operated Breese Farms throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the young couple moved to Alfred where John graduated from NY State Agricultural and Technical Institute at Alfred University with a degree in dairy farming and animal husbandry. He began his career as manager of Dann’s Dairy and then joined Polly-O Dairy products in Campbell. He worked for Polly-O from 1952 to 1984, culminating as field supervisor for the company. John was a direct descendant of Corporal John Breese, Revolutionary War soldier and first settler of Chemung County. As a seven year old boy, John assisted with the dedication of the Breese Monument still located on South Main Street in the Village of Horseheads. Along with being proud of his heritage in the area, John was a member of both the First Presbyterian Church of Horseheads and the Old Oak Masonic Lodge # 364 F. & A.M. Never one to simply join, John served actively by being the secretary and treasurer of the Lodge throughout his life and helping the church as an elder for many years. John’s hobbies were countless, but his greatest passions included camping, canoeing, bowling and ham radio operation where his call number WA2FJM has been well-known by people here and around the globe. While John lived an ordinary life, he did it with extraordinary kindness, commitment and grace. His first priority was always his family: his wife, his children and his grandchildren. He was relentlessly cheerful and had a ready smile for anyone he met during his day. John always viewed a stranger simply as a friend he had not yet made. Family and friends are invited to call at the Barber Funeral Home, Inc., 413 S. Main St., Horseheads on Fri. Aug. 22, 2014, from 4-7:00 pm. His service will be celebrated in the First Presbyterian Church of Horseheads on Sat. at 10:00 am with burial service to follow in Maple Grove Cemetery. Flowers will be provided by the family and it was John’s request that any donations in his memory be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 2943 Westinghouse Road, Horseheads, NY 14845. NOTICE: Officers and members of Horseheads Old Oak Lodge #364 F. & A. M. will gather at the funeral home on Friday at 6:45 pm to conduct a memorial service for their departed brother.