Obituary of John Curtis Santee

John Curtis Santee (93) resident of the Benewah Valley, near St. Maries, ID died October 4, 2015 at St. Maries, ID. He was born June 6, 1922 to Delbert and June (Merkel) Santee at Bethlehem, PA. He grew up there and graduated from Bethlehem High School with the class of 1939. John then attended Virginia Military Institute. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1941 and served in the European Theater of War. John was discharged in 1945. He was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the Army Air Corp Reserves and in 1948 was recalled by the U.S. Airforce for the Berlin Airlift. John married Barbara Herman on March 12, 1947 at Stroudsburg, PA. He was recalled again in 1950 for the Korean War and was stationed in Korea. John remained on active duty thru the Vietnam War receiving his Honorable Discharge as a Lt. Colonel in 1968. John then moved to Seattle, WA where he went to work for Boeing Corp as an engineer. He retired in 1985. His wife died in 1987. John moved to the St. Maries area in 2000 and rented a home on property on Coon Creek in the Benewah Valley. John was an avid shooter, he enjoyed re-loading ammunition. John loved hunting and fishing as well as watching football. His favorite was the Seattle Seahawks. John is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law Scott and Katherine Santee of Seattle, WA and Todd and Teresa Santee of Newport, WA. His daughter and son-in-law Barbara and Theodore Low of Deerfield, MA. John is also survived by his dear friend Diane Chestnut of the Benewah Valley. Also surviving are his sister June Gallagher of Atlanta, GA, 7 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. He was preceded in death by brother Delbert Santee Jr and sister Elizabeth Houck. A graveside celebration of his life will be held on his birthday (and the anniversary of D-Day) June 6, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Woodlawn Cemetery, St. Maries, ID Military honors will be provided by the U.S. Airforce and St Maries American Legion Post # 25. A second service has been planned for November 7, 2015 11:00 am at the Benewah Valley Community Center.