Funeral service for MSG (Retired) Richard Allen (Joe) Johannes will be 1:30 p.m. Thursday, August 25, 2016 in Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Tom Willoughby officiating.

Burial with full military honors will follow in Post Cemetery, Fort Sill.

Friends may view from 8 am – 9 pm Tuesday and Wednesday.  The family will greet friends from 6-8 pm Wednesday at the funeral home.

MSG (Retired) Richard Allen (Joe) Johannes passed away Saturday, August 20, 2016 from complications associated with cancer.  Joe was 83 years old.  Joe was born January 5, 1933 in Iowa City, Iowa.  He grew up on farms in Iowa and on the plains of Eastern Colorado.  He enlisted April 10, 1950 in the Army, before finishing high school.  He participated in the McArthur-planned landing in Inchon, South Korea as part of the 7th Infantry Division.  After fighting northward, he was along the Yalu River when the Chinese Communists attacked shortly after Thanksgiving Day, 1950.  During the bitterly fought withdrawal from the Yalu under indescribably frigid conditions, Joe was wounded in the head.   After recovering, he rejoined his unit and was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor and the Combat Infantryman's Badge during subsequent battles.

Following Korea, Joe completed his high school education.   On June 10, 1952 he and Pauline Smith were married in Longview, Texas.  They were married for over 64 wonderful years and had two children.  He and Pauline followed his military career across the world and eventually wound up at Ft. Sill--where she stayed while he deployed to Vietnam.

Joe served two tours in Vietnam and was, again, wounded in the head, awarded the Bronze Star and his second Combat Infantryman's Badge.   Joe retired from active duty on July 30, 1980.  His awards and decorations include:  Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal with Five Campaigns, Vietnam Service Medal with Six Service Stars, Purple Heart with First Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Second Oak Leaf Cluster and V Device, Air Medal, Three Overseas Service Bars, Army Commendation Medal with First Oak Leaf Cluster, Combat Infantryman's Badge Second Award and Good Conduct Medal Ninth Award.

While in Federal Civil Service, Joe served as Instructor and Chief, Communications and Electronics Department, US Army Field Artillery School.

Joe was an "Army Man" from his seventeenth year until his death.  He served 28 and ½ years on active duty and 14 years in the Federal Civil Service at Ft. Sill.  Even after retirement, Joe remained an avid reader and student of military history and affairs, a collector of military memorabilia and participant in military events such as Honor Flight.  Joe was always interested in learning about a military operation--current or ancient-- or reading a new military history book and having a lively discussion about it.

In Joe's own words, quoted from a recent newspaper article highlighting his life, "It has been one helluva ride, but I wouldn't trade a minute of it.  My military experiences, education and memories are what I am.  I am eternally grateful to my nation for providing this opportunity to a young man with few good choices ahead of him and to my wife and family for having been my greatest supporters over the years."

In addition to his professional careers, Joe also led an active religious and community service life.  He was a member of Trinity Baptist Church;  member, Mount Scott Masonic Lodge #540; was a Scottish Rite 32nd Degree Mason; was a Knight Commander, Court of Honor (KCMH); and member of the DAV, VFW and American Legion.

Joe is survived by wife, Pauline of the home; daughter, Kathy Johannes of Lawton; and brothers, Lewis Johannes and wife Joyce of Firestone, CO and James Johannes and wife Opal of Joplin, MO; along with many nieces and nephews including Chuck Smith.

He was predeceased by his mother, Ruth Agnes Purcell Johannes; father, Fredrick Joseph Johannes and daughter, Cindy Yarbrough.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Leah M. Fitch Cancer Center, 104 NW 31st Street, Lawton, OK 73505 in Joe's name.