John Carl Luchsinger

John Carl Luchsinger, 102, of St. Joseph, MO passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, September 18, 2025. John was born July 19, 1923, in St. Joseph, MO to Oscar and Helen (Moeck) Luchsinger. He attended Central High School in St. Joseph and graduated in 1941. He enlisted in the army on January 28, 1943 at age 19, and in January 1944, he boarded the Queen Mary for England, arriving in Twyford, England. He became part of the 573rd Single Aircraft Warning Battalion and eventually landed on Utah Beach, France on August 29, 1944, providing radar support to the Ninth Army as part of the European Theater of Operations. At the end of the war, John came back to the States and was subsequently discharged in May 1946. Shortly thereafter in July 1946, he enlisted in the Air Force. It was during his first assignment to Manchester, NH that he met his wife, Catherine Rita Quiet whom he married on September 6, 1946. He subsequently pursued a career in the Air Force as a specialist in Logistics and Administration, retiring in July 1969 and returning to his hometown of St. Joseph, MO where he worked for the State of Missouri in the employment division. After the passing of his wife on January 3, 1999, John started traveling with his two daughters and son-in-law, visiting over thirty countries covering much of Western and Eastern Europe until the age of 90. John was an avid reader primarily of military history and collector of military memorabilia and other themed collectibles. He loved to shoot, beginning in high school as a member of the rifle team and continuing late into his adult life. He was preceded in death by his wife Catherine, his parents, and his daughter Linda Whitman. He is survived by his daughter Joan Holcomb, son-in-law Robert Whitman, five grandchildren, Robert (Kim) Whitman, Nathan (Lauren) Whitman, Bryon (Megan) Whitman, Ryan Holcomb, and Zachary Holcomb; and three great grandchildren, Oliver, Hazel and Ava. Visitation for John will be held, Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at Heaton-Bowman-Smith & Sidenfaden Chapel from 6:00-8:00 P.M. A graveside service with full military honors at Leavenworth National Cemetery in Leavenworth, KS, will be held Thursday, September 25, 2025 at 11:00 A.M.