John G. Bliss

Jaffrey, New Hampshire
John G. Bliss, Jr. 89, of Jaffrey, died Friday October 22, 2010 at the Monadnock Community Hospital in Peterborough after a period of failing health.
John was born in Dorchester, Mass, to John and Lucy (Inch) Bliss on June 7th, 1921 and shortly there after the family, which included his sister Margery, moved to Needham which John always considered his "home town".
He attended the Needham public schools and graduated from Needham High School in 1939. John entered Colby College and after completing his freshman year transferred to the University of California, Berkeley. Upon completion of his sophomore year and returning to Needham he was quickly drafted into the Army in 1942.
After being commissioned at Ft Benning he was assigned to units in Hawaii, Saipan and Okinawa. He completed studies and graduated from Berkley in 1947 and returned to active duty in the Army in 1948 and served in Korea during the war. John retired from the Army with 32 years of Active and Reserve service as a Lt. Colonel.
John joined the U.S. Dept of State and served as a special Agent in the Diplomatic Security Service. He retired from the State Dept in 1979.
In the Army and the State Dept he served in Hawaii, Saipan, Okinawa, Korea, Japan and Hong Kong in addition to U.S. assignments.
John was always proud of his Army infantry assignments and during his military services was awarded numerous medals and awards including the Expert Infantry Badge (EIB) in 1943 and Combat Infantry Badge (CIB) in 1945.
Upon his retirement the family bought a home in Jaffrey, N.H. on Mountain Rd. it was known locally as "Three Chimneys". John thought that retirement meant time for relaxing, looking at the mountains and enjoying their family cottage at Deering Lake but soon found that renovating the house, caring for the grounds and various community projects occupied most of his time.
He organized the first professional assessment of the antiques at Melville Academy; paintied the buildings of the Thorndike Pond Club; was Trustee and building manager of the First Church of Jaffrey ; and purchased the flags and helped maintain the Jaffrey Center flagpole for fifteen years.
John's greatest enjoyments were swimming, boating and sailing at their cottage on Driftwood Island, Deering; working and living at Three Chimneys and attending numerous military reunions and overseas trips especially those to Hawaii with Needham friends.
After 27 years in Jaffrey they decided to move to a retirement community in Maine. After four years the pull of the mountain and the town of Jaffrey made them return.
John is survived by his beloved wife Geneva whom he married in 1946; his son David, granddaughter Morgan and grandson Daniel of Amherst, N.H., his daughter Nancy of the home, son John of Boston, nephew Stephan Knoll of California and numerous relatives in New Brunswick, Canada on both sides of his parent's families. He was pre-deceased by sister Margery (Bliss) Knoll.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution in Johns memory to one of his favorite causes, the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675-8517, or visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org for more ways to help.

At John's request there will be no calling hours.

Burial with full military honors will take place on Friday, October 29, 2010 at 1:00PM in Philips-Heil Cemetery on Fitzwilliam Road in Jaffrey. (map/driving directions)
A Memorial Service will follow the cemetery services at 2:00 PM at the First Church in Jaffrey, 14 Laban Ainsworth Way in Jaffrey Center, NH. Rev. Robert Kyte, Pastor will officiate.(map/driving directions)