John Arthur Riggs

November 29, 1946

January 12, 2016

John Arthur Riggs was born and raised in California to parents Robert and Marguerite Riggs. He moved to Reno and graduated from Reno High School in 1963. He joined the U.S. Army in 1966 and was honorably discharged in in 1969 as a Specialist E-5, He received the Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Achievement in Combat, 2 Purple Hearts, and numerous honors and awards for his service in the Army. He graduated from the University of Nevada Reno (UNR) with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1972. Served as Major in the National Guard Reserve. His duties included Executive Officer of the 2nd Military Police Battalion in Reno and Assistant Provost Marshall for the Nevada Brigade of the NNGR. He taught as an Academic Teacher at the Nevada State Prison. He was appointed Supervisor of Education at the Maximum Security Prison, and then he served in the Northern Nevada Women's Correctional Center, establishing full time schools at both prisons and also establishing the MAX Prison Law Library. He became a State Parole and Probation Officer for the Nevada Department of Public Safety for 15 yrs., Retiring in 2002 after 25 years of continuing service to Nevada as a Training Officer, Safety Officer, and State Trainer. organizations: Nevada State President of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, and as Commander of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW), Reno Camp 25. Through John's leadership as Camp Commander, Reno Camp 25 achieved the 2014 Abraham Lincoln Award, designated as the best SUVCW Camp in the United States of America. He is survived by his sister, Vivienne Taylor, Nephew and Nieces, Shawn Heisser, Dominique Travino, Kathleen Bowman and numerous nieces, nephews and Great nieces and nephews. The Funeral Services for John will take place at Mountain View Mortuary, 425 Stoker Ave. Reno, NV 89503 on Tuesday, January 26th, 2016 at 10:00 am.

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Published by The Reno Gazette Journal and Lyon County News Leader on Jan. 24, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for John Riggs

20 Entries

Wayne Tippin

January 18, 2025

I've already mentioned several times my relationship with John and I always hoped someone in his family would contact me. This has been a good year.

Jacqueline Heisser

September 28, 2024

My uncles absence still weighs heavily on my heart. I miss our conversations and the wisdom you shared. I long to call you again, seeking answers to questions about our family's history and stories untold.

Though my memory can't hold every word, your legacy lives on in so many. I find solace knowing you're reunited with - Jacky, with your sisters Grammy and Aunt Pat, as well as my Dad now. Imagining you together brings me comfort.

In moments of grief, I sit in silence, wishing I could hear your voice once more. But even in sorrow, I celebrate your life and the impact you had on mine.

You may be gone, but your love and guidance remain. I'll carry your memory close, cherishing the time we shared.

Love, Jacqueline

Wayne Tippin

January 18, 2024

Another year passes. Since Vivienne and John have gone, I've communicated now and then with Domonique, Vivienne's daughter, I guess just to maintain a connection but it's not the same. The world's just not as bright without Vivienne in it, and I miss my email discussions with John. The time I spent in Reno with them was one of the happier times in my life and I miss those days and my friends. wayne dot tippin @ gmail dot com

D. Richard

August 20, 2023

I found this image on a Facebook page containing old military photos with the following caption:

IWO JIMA.
Original Caption: Pfc. John A. Riggs of Reno, Nevada, shakes out his pancho in front of his foxhole home on side of a hill near Iwo Jima's No. 1 airfield. May 1945. (N.A.)

I did a search and found this page, thought I would share.

David A. Davis

May 22, 2023

John was a close friend of mine and is missed. He had said he wanted a geographic feature named for him, which required a person to be dead 5 years. We're proposing to name the ridge east of Carson River and north of McTarnahan Hill as Riggs Ridge. It's also near the prisons where he worked. An e-mail of support can be sent through the website (google it) of the Nevada State Board on Geographic Names.

Wayne Tippin

January 18, 2023

Another year has rushed past, and I'll be 83 this year. Last year, 2022, wasn't a good one. Sadly, John's sister Vivienne passed away, and now the whole family is gone. I remember meeting the Riggs family in 1961 when John was just a teenager and Vivienne and I worked at Harrah's Club. I'm so sorry I didn't visit Vivienne that last time I was in Reno. Now it's too late. John and his sister have both gone. It hurts to grow old and see loved friends pass away.

Jerry Gooding

April 26, 2022

It was very good to read the several messages left in John´s memory.
I knew John from the U.S. Jaycee Senate. It was so enlightening to listen to John´s stories. I so enjoyed sitting down with him and learning. As a past teacher of high school history myself, I learned a lot from him.

Wayne Tippin

January 18, 2022

Six years now since John passed. Time flies and at my age, memories grow dim. No one wants to discuss the Civil War with me since John died. I see Vivienne moved back to Sparks and I know she misses John. He was a nice person and a good man. I enjoyed talking with him. wayne dot tippin @ gmail dot com

Wayne Tippin

January 18, 2021

Another year has passed - time flies. I went through Reno a while back - I wanted to stop by John's grave to pay my respects and say hello to Vivienne over in Sparks, but I was pressed for time. I used to enjoy John's emails as we discussed the Civil War and Reno back in 1962. Those days are fading away now, like all of us, I guess. It's hard to believe I was 21 and Vivienne was 22, and I think John was about 16 then. Such a long time ago. wayne dot tippin @ gmail dot com

Wayne Tippin

January 18, 2020

I met John when he was still in high school. His sister and I were good friends and worked together at Harrah's Club in Reno. Once when I was going home on leave, for security I put my motorcycle in his sister's basement. John was surprised to see it down there and was wondering how I was going to get it out. He really enjoyed seeing me put a board on the stairs and ride that thing up and out~!! John was a member of the Union of Federal Veterans and I am a member of the Union of Confederate Veterans, which led to some enjoyable discussions. I was in Reno last fall but as John was gone then, his sister has moved to California, and all my other Reno friends have died or moved away, I didn't enjoy it so much. I don't know anyone in Reno now so I don't think I'll be going there again. That's too bad because I liked John, his sister, and Reno but time flies. Still, I have lots of memories about our discussions, and those good old days long past.

Chaun Mortier

January 18, 2020

To this day when I look at the Pink Pig from the JCs that he gave me, it brings a tear to my eye. He was a mentor, friend, historian and all-around amazing person. I miss our cemetery crawling and discussions of history.

Wayne Tippin

February 18, 2016

I've followed with interest the memories and condolences of John's friends. I am pleased to see that he was well thought of and I wanted to add a final comment to the site before it closes on the 23rd. He grew into a fine man and he thought highly of Vivienne but who wouldn't? I'm sure she misses him. John and I communicated now and then and I was in Reno in the summer of 2014 but now my last connection to that city is gone. Sadly, there'll be no more emails from John to The Forest Ranger.

Pete and Carol Bigrigg

January 29, 2016

Sorry to hear of John's passing. He was a gentleman and a true friend . I heard of John before I had met him. He was a Sparks J.C and I Was a Reno J.C. He was not afraid to speak his mind, that was something I learned in short order. We stayed in contact even though I moved from the Sparks area. He will be missed by all who knew him. Men like John seem to leave this world to soon, and be missed in our future. May the good Lord look down on John's family and comfort them.

Chaun Mortier

January 26, 2016

I met John three years ago but I feel as though I have always known him. Our mutual love was the honoring of civil war soldiers, I was blessed to have met him and have him as a mentor.

Merlene Snider Cardnuto

January 26, 2016

John was a very good friend of my deceased brother Ron Snider. In a younger time they were active together in the Jaycees. After my brother moved away they kept in touch and travel many many times abroad. John was my history teacher one semester in high school. I will miss his beautiful voice and his wonderful rendering of tales. He was true inspiration to many. Our condolences to the family.

Merlene Snider Cardnuto

January 26, 2016

John was a very very good friend of my deceased brother Ron Snider. Both active in the Jaycees in the younger years, my brother having moved they kept in touch and traveled many times abroad. John was my high school teacher one year. A great person, loved to listen to his voice and his stories. He will be missed. My condolences to the family.

January 26, 2016

Good man and long time friend. Our condolences to his family. Mike and Judy Brown, Bothel, Wa

Joe A Souza

January 26, 2016

Our US JCI Senate Family has lost another good friend. Our condolences to Johns family and his sister Vivienne.

Andrew Barbano

January 25, 2016

I remember my friend John in my Jan. 26 Sparks Tribune column. He was a good man who did good and great things.

Wayne Tippin

January 24, 2016

My condolences to Johns family and his sister Vivienne. We met in 1961 and corresponded off and on over the years. He was a good man.

Wayne Tippin

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