John O. Lahm

John was an “Old Breed” Marine who passed-away peacefully on Sunday May 31, 2020. He was born on November 26, 1925, to John Lahm and Margaret (McCann) Lahm and raised in Madison, WI. His father was Madison’s Fire Chief from 1929-1939 while his mother was very active in her community. A life-long love of being near the water began for him as a young boy while working at the famed Bernard’s Boat House. With his loyal companion Prince, his German Shepard, he spent all his free time learning how to fix boats and ferry people across Lake Mendota.

In June of 1943 at the age of 17, hearing the call of his country, he enlisted as a private in the 1st Marine Division of the Marine Corps. He fought under the command of legendary “Chesty Puller” at Peleliu where his battalion was annihilated. In his next battle at Okinawa, he was wounded and received a Purple Heart.

At war’s end in 1945, he was part of a military group that repatriated Japanese prisoners of war from China back to Japan. In 1951, now a SSGT, and again under the command of “Chesty Puller,” he was in the first wave of Marines to land at Inchon at the start of the Korean War where he would go on to fight in six more battles.

After his service, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Relations at St. Martin’s University in Lacey, Washington, where his future wife, Margaret was active in theatre. John and Margaret married and built their first house on Lake Patterson in Washington state.

In 1963 he moved east with his young and growing family, began his decades-long career as a senior- level federal government official and raised his family. In his free time, he earned his private pilot’s license, partnered in a plane ownership arrangement, and took to the skies as often as he could. In retirement, he moved to a home on the Magothy River in MD, to be closer to his boat where he enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren on the water.

In 1988, John moved to Cape Coral, FL where he enjoyed scuba-diving, boating, fishing, listening to music by the lake and being with family. In his 70’s and 80’s his bags were always packed for travel adventures. He enjoyed visiting places such as his hometown of Madison, Hawaii, and Alaska as well as international travel spots such as Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Cypress, Italy, France, England, New Zealand, and Australia. In his later years, he could often be found at the Military Museum, in Cape Coral, enjoying the fellowship of veterans or helping the homeless along-side his daughter, Kristina.

John did not begin to share his war experiences until well into his 80’s. Once he began this process, his opportunities to share were numerous. He was interviewed by Marine Corps. and Japanese historians, laid wreaths at war memorials, took an honor flight to DC., joined in the Marine Corps. 2014 Birthday Message, and participated in the NHK documentary Peleliu Island-Revisiting a Forgotten Battlefield shown in Japan in 2014.

A quote taken from St. Martin’s 1955 Samarco is one he shared for those he leaves behind:
“We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths; in feelings, not in figures on a dial. We should count time by heartthrobs. He most lives who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best.”

John was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Montague, formerly of Olympia, WA, and two sisters, Alice Buenzil of NY and Mary Holley of WI. He leaves behind, three sons: John, Steven, and Daniel Lahm; four daughters: Marian Bachmann, Kathy Messina, Kristina Jackson, Teresa Lahm; 19 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; his service dog Mike; and many friends.

A memorial service will be held at Living Faith Church, 939 SW 7th Court, Cape Coral, FL on June 10th at 6:30PM. For those not able to attend due to COVID-19, a link will be available to attend the service virtually. Please visit Living Faith Church on Facebook or their website www.livingfaithchurch.com on the day of the service for the link.

A private burial service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Wolfhounds Legacy which provides wounded veterans service dogs. They are located at 229 NW 22nd Place, Cape Coral, FL, 33993.