Obituary of John Thomas Levi Jr.

Colonel (Ret.) John T. Levi, passed away peacefully at his home January 8, 2024. He was 95 years old. He was born to John and Helen Levi in Lawrence, Kansas (Haskell).  He attended various Indian Schools in Kansas, New Mexico, North and South Dakota. He graduated from Wahpeton, North Dakota High School. He was an enrolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes of Oklahoma. 

Colonel Levi proudly served his country for 32 years. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was assigned to the U.S. Marine Corp as a Fleet Marine Force Navy Corpsman. He saw combat with the 1st Marine Division in Korea and participated in battles at the Inchon Landing, Seoul Recapture and at the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea. After serving in the Navy, John received a commission in the U.S. Army Reserve and served 27 years in various areas of command retiring as a Colonel, Infantry, USAR. 

John received his Bachelor and Masters degrees in Education and Education Administration from the Wichita State University. He taught school and coached at USD 259 (North High and Hadley Jr. High) in Wichita KS for 35 years. He was active in the American Legion baseball, Greater Wichita Football League, and Little League programs. 

In Wichita, he was active in Native American affairs and ceremonies.  He was one of the original Board members of the Mid-America All Indian Center and an original member of the Wichita Inter-tribal Warrior Society (Veterans). John was proud of his Native American heritage.   

In 1991, he and his wife Mary Ann retired to Green Valley, Arizona. He became a member of Risen Savior Lutheran Church serving in various positions including Elder. He also was a member of the Marine Corp League, American Legion, VFW, Arizona Korean War Veterans and “The Chosin Few”.

John is survived by his wife Mary Ann, Green Valley; sister, Julianne Barnes, Askwasne, NY; daughters, Lynette Vignatelli and Sally Levi, Wichita KS; granddaughters Perrine Vignatelli, Wichita, KS and Juliann (Daniel) Perez, Bronx, NY; great-grandson Kash; step-children, JR Modlin and Tiffany (Curt) Macey; 5 step-grandchildren, Natasha, Damon, Ryan, Tyler and Jacob; as well as a host of loving relatives and friends.

A celebration of life will be held at Lutheran Church of the Risen Savior, in Green Valley, AZ, on February 10th at 11:00 am. 

A Military memorial service and internment will be held a Rest Haven Mortuary, Wichita, KS, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to:

Haskell LIGHT (Lutheran Indian Ministries), 137 Pawnee Ave, Lawrence, KS,66046

or

Lutheran Church of the Risen Savior, Green Valley, AZ.