John B. Laschkewitsch

John B Laschkewitsch, 58, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, was taken to be with the Lord, whom he loved, on Monday, August 9, 2021 of natural causes. A full military honors internment will take place at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan, at 11:00 am on Friday, September 17th, 2021. Cremation has taken place.

John was born in Sedalia, Missouri on September 19th, 1962 to John M. and Mary M. (Morris) Laschkewitsch. He graduated in 1981 from Ellison High School in Killeen, Texas. In High School, John was Honor Society President, Key Club President, Texas Boys State Ambassador, and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He played trombone for the High School State Marching Band and for the Jazz Band. John received a Presidential appointment to the United States Military Academy and graduated from West Point in 1985, and went on to earn his Masters of Business Administration from Boston University. He was a member of the Glee Club at West Point, as well as a Cadet Chaplain, and a member of the Cadet Honor Board. As an Army artillery officer, and an Airborne Ranger, John led his troops into Iraq during the Gulf War, as an Army Captain. He was awarded numerous Army medals and ribbons, to include The Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Southwest Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Kuwait Liberation Medal--Saudi Arabia, and two Army Commendation Medals. After separating from the military in 1992, he earned his private pilot’s license, and went on to become a successful insurance producer.

John enjoyed being around people, and became a skilled grill master, serving BBQ at parties while drinking Icehouse—his favorite beer.  John loved cars and still had his coveted 1990 5-speed Toyota Supra Turbo, and even kept a copy of the check he paid in full for the car.  John grew up loving to play board games. He was super competitive at everything he set out to do. One of his favorite games to play was Stratego.  He won most every time. John had a passion for upbeat music and accumulated an impressive collection of CDs and vinyl records.  He was known to DJ at some of the parties he attended, as was described by his friends in Fayetteville as “the life of the party”. John loved to travel, and his trips took him to Spain, France, England, Austria, Belgium, Germany, and Italy. He always found a way to attend Church of Christ services wherever his travel took him.

John was preceded in death by his grandparents, all of North Dakota, by his Brother, Ben, and by his Mother, Mary. Those left to cherish his memory are his Father, John Maurice Laschkewitsch and wife Carolyn of Midland Texas; his brother Scott T. Laschkewitsch and wife Shannon of Augusta, Georgia; and his Sister Sheri K. Patterson and husband Kevin of Sebring, Florida. He is also survived by a multitude of loving Uncles, Aunts, Cousins, Nephews, and Nieces, along with his special friends in Fayetteville, NC, and his classmates from the Long Gray Line.

West Point has created a memorial page on John.  If you would like to share any special memories you have of him, please do so at the following link: https://bit.ly/3D2bmvk.  In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to The North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.