Obituary for Albert "Al" Sasse
Albert "Al" Sasse, age 81 of Blair, Oklahoma, passed away Saturday, September 8, 2018 at Jackson County Memorial Hospital in Altus, Oklahoma.
Albert was born in Spearfish, South Dakota on August 15, 1937 to Harry C. and Anne (Johannesen) Sasse. The family moved to Tacoma, Washington when Al was a one year old. His father, a 4rd generation brickmason, helped build the administration building on McChord Air Force Base. They later moved to Battle Ground, Washington where Al grew up helping his brothers milk 40 dairy cows on the family farm. Al joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 1955 and was stationed on the U.S. Coast Guard ice breaker, Klamath, based in Seattle as the cutter supplied dental and chest x-rays for inhabitants of remote Eskimo villages along the Alaskan coast and into the Artic Circle. After attending engineer’s school in Groton, Connecticut, his tour of duty included the rescue life boat station at Umpqua River, Oregon: light station duty at Westpoint light in Seattle and Point-No-Point light at Hansville, Washington. He was also stationed an 83’ search and rescue Coast Guard boat at Port Townsend, Washington. While stationed in Seattle, Al met and married his wife, Sylvia Jo Hansen on July 29, 1960. Al was honorably discharged from the Coast Guard in 1962 and then moved to Vancouver, Washington. In 1967 he joined the Air Force Reserves in Portland, Oregon and trained there as a flight engineer on the C119 Flying Boxcar. In 1968 he began training as a flight engineer on the C-141 Starlifter. He enlisted in the regular Air Force in 1969 and was then stationed at McChord AFB, Washington where he was attached to the 4th Squadron. The family moved to Spanaway, Washington (Adjacent to McChord) and Al flew missions during the Vietnam War that took him all over Southeast Asia, Australia, Germany, France, Spain New Zealand and Great Britain. While stationed at McChord, Al was a Cub Scoutmaster for 2 years in the Mt. Rainer Council. In 1974 the family landed at Altus AFB, Oklahoma where Al was a flight engineer instructor/flight examiner attached to the 57th Military Airlift Squadron. Al retired in 1981 after logging over 8000 hours of flying time in 13 years and received numerous awards and decorations including: Air Medal w/1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Commendation Medal w/1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, NCO Professional Military Education Ribbon, U.S. Coast Good Conduct Medal, Combat Readiness Medal w/1 Oak Leafe Cluster, Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon w/4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Republic of Vietnam Gallant Cross w/ Palm, Republic Campaign Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, and the Air Force Good Conduct Medal w/4 Oak Leaf Clusters. In Altus, Al served as Vice President and President of THAT ALTUS BAND parents. He also drove charter buses for the Altus Public Schools, the church van for First United Methodist Church and Disabled American Veterans van. He taught masonry classes at WOSC for several years and was a member of the First United Methodist Church. Al was a 21 year member of the Oklahoma Christmas Tree Growers Association and served on the board of directors. In 1987 Al and his wife planted their first 1,000 Christmas trees on 15 acres northeast of Altus. Sandy Hills Christmas Tree Farm continued to produce trees until 2008 when the drought and ill health intervened in production plans.
Preceded in death by parents; his brother, Bob Sasse; and his sister, Helen Christiansen; Al is survived by his wife Sylvia Jo Sasse of the home; three children, Rhonda Sasse Stewart of Cloudcroft, New Mexico; Regina Sasse Ellis of Oklahoma City; and Allen Sasse and wife Maggie Templer, Sasse of Altus; three brothers, Don Sasse and wife Mary of Washington; Willis Sasse and wife Terri of Montana; and Edgar Sasse and wife Rita of Michigan; two sisters, Janet Richards and husband Gordon of Washington; and Evie Wilen of Oregan; six great grandchildren, Kirk Ellis and Kayla Jo Ellis; Daniel Stewart, Patrick Stewart, and Kevin Stewart; and Emma Jo Sasse; as well as numerous nieces and nephews, other family members and many friends.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 am on Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at the First United Methodist Church in Altus with Johnny Morrow and Reverend Jane Vaughn officiating.
Military burial rites will follow at 2:00 pm at the Fort Sill National Cemetery, 2648 NE Jake Dunn Rd, Elgin, OK 73538 with military honors rendered by the United States Air Force.
Memorial contributions may be may to the First United Methodist Church Country Kitchen or the Freedom Riders Patriot motorcycle group in honor of Al Sasse.
Flowers ordered are requested to be ordered from the Black Orchid.
Arrangements are under the direction of Lowell-Tims Funeral Home and Crematory, Altus, Oklahoma.
To sign the online guest book and share memories with the family please visit www.Lowell-Tims.com
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Albert was born in Spearfish, South Dakota on August 15, 1937 to Harry C. and Anne (Johannesen) Sasse. The family moved to Tacoma, Washington when Al was a one year old. His father, a 4rd generation brickmason, helped build the administration building on McChord Air Force Base. They later moved to Battle Ground, Washington where Al grew up helping his brothers milk 40 dairy cows on the family farm. Al joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 1955 and was stationed on the U.S. Coast Guard ice breaker, Klamath, based in Seattle as the cutter supplied dental and chest x-rays for inhabitants of remote Eskimo villages along the Alaskan coast and into the Artic Circle. After attending engineer’s school in Groton, Connecticut, his tour of duty included the rescue life boat station at Umpqua River, Oregon: light station duty at Westpoint light in Seattle and Point-No-Point light at Hansville, Washington. He was also stationed an 83’ search and rescue Coast Guard boat at Port Townsend, Washington. While stationed in Seattle, Al met and married his wife, Sylvia Jo Hansen on July 29, 1960. Al was honorably discharged from the Coast Guard in 1962 and then moved to Vancouver, Washington. In 1967 he joined the Air Force Reserves in Portland, Oregon and trained there as a flight engineer on the C119 Flying Boxcar. In 1968 he began training as a flight engineer on the C-141 Starlifter. He enlisted in the regular Air Force in 1969 and was then stationed at McChord AFB, Washington where he was attached to the 4th Squadron. The family moved to Spanaway, Washington (Adjacent to McChord) and Al flew missions during the Vietnam War that took him all over Southeast Asia, Australia, Germany, France, Spain New Zealand and Great Britain. While stationed at McChord, Al was a Cub Scoutmaster for 2 years in the Mt. Rainer Council. In 1974 the family landed at Altus AFB, Oklahoma where Al was a flight engineer instructor/flight examiner attached to the 57th Military Airlift Squadron. Al retired in 1981 after logging over 8000 hours of flying time in 13 years and received numerous awards and decorations including: Air Medal w/1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Commendation Medal w/1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, NCO Professional Military Education Ribbon, U.S. Coast Good Conduct Medal, Combat Readiness Medal w/1 Oak Leafe Cluster, Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon w/4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Republic of Vietnam Gallant Cross w/ Palm, Republic Campaign Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, and the Air Force Good Conduct Medal w/4 Oak Leaf Clusters. In Altus, Al served as Vice President and President of THAT ALTUS BAND parents. He also drove charter buses for the Altus Public Schools, the church van for First United Methodist Church and Disabled American Veterans van. He taught masonry classes at WOSC for several years and was a member of the First United Methodist Church. Al was a 21 year member of the Oklahoma Christmas Tree Growers Association and served on the board of directors. In 1987 Al and his wife planted their first 1,000 Christmas trees on 15 acres northeast of Altus. Sandy Hills Christmas Tree Farm continued to produce trees until 2008 when the drought and ill health intervened in production plans.
Preceded in death by parents; his brother, Bob Sasse; and his sister, Helen Christiansen; Al is survived by his wife Sylvia Jo Sasse of the home; three children, Rhonda Sasse Stewart of Cloudcroft, New Mexico; Regina Sasse Ellis of Oklahoma City; and Allen Sasse and wife Maggie Templer, Sasse of Altus; three brothers, Don Sasse and wife Mary of Washington; Willis Sasse and wife Terri of Montana; and Edgar Sasse and wife Rita of Michigan; two sisters, Janet Richards and husband Gordon of Washington; and Evie Wilen of Oregan; six great grandchildren, Kirk Ellis and Kayla Jo Ellis; Daniel Stewart, Patrick Stewart, and Kevin Stewart; and Emma Jo Sasse; as well as numerous nieces and nephews, other family members and many friends.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 am on Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at the First United Methodist Church in Altus with Johnny Morrow and Reverend Jane Vaughn officiating.
Military burial rites will follow at 2:00 pm at the Fort Sill National Cemetery, 2648 NE Jake Dunn Rd, Elgin, OK 73538 with military honors rendered by the United States Air Force.
Memorial contributions may be may to the First United Methodist Church Country Kitchen or the Freedom Riders Patriot motorcycle group in honor of Al Sasse.
Flowers ordered are requested to be ordered from the Black Orchid.
Arrangements are under the direction of Lowell-Tims Funeral Home and Crematory, Altus, Oklahoma.
To sign the online guest book and share memories with the family please visit www.Lowell-Tims.com
To send flowers in memory of Albert "Al" Sasse, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Funeral Service
Tuesday
11
Sep
10:00 AM
Altus First United Methodist Church
Altus, OK
Altus, OK 73521
Burial
Tuesday
11
Sep
2:00 PM
Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, OK
2648 NE Jake Dunn Road
Elgin, OK 73538
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