Col (Ret.)Alexanderj. Sajo

Alexander John Sajo, COL (Ret) 82, of Junction City, passed away on Thursday, January 9, 2014, at the Valley View Senior Life in Junction City. A memorial service will be conducted at 10 a.m., Thursday, January 16, 2014, at the First Presbyterian Church with Pastor Matthew Glasgow officiating. Following the memorial service a graveside service with full military honors will be held at 2 p.m.at the Kansas Veterans' Cemetery, 5181 Wildcat Creek Road Manhattan, KS.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Alexander A. and Elizabeth Orban Sajo, and his sister Julie. Survivors include his wife Jane "Janie" Schrider Sajo, daughter Elizabeth "Libby", son John "Chief", and son James "Jim", and his wife Susan. He leaves two grandchildren, Colette and John "Johnny", and a sister, Clare Sajo Dowdall. Also surviving him are Deborah Davis, Libby's partner; Barbara Lynch, the mother of Colette and Johnny, and Robert Dowdall, Clare's husband. Other survivors include his sister-in-law Sally Schrider McKnight (Hugh) McKnight, and nephews Kenneth (Lisa) and Steven. He also leaves many friends and colleagues around the country and the world, but especially in his adopted hometown area of Junction City/Ft. Riley. Last, but certainly not least, he leaves his true friend and "boon companion" Jake, a yellow Labrador Retriever.

Born March 22, 1931 in Southgate, CA, John grew up in Cleveland, OH. Bright, handsome, and witty, he graduated from high school and enlisted in the Army. During a year of study at Duke University, he met Janie; they fell in love, and were married in 1952. John was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1952; he later completed his Baccalaureate at Kansas State and his Master's Degree in Public Administration at George Washington University.

John's choice of a military career led to a lifetime of travel and adventure. The family experienced frequent moves to different areas in the East Coast and Midwest, and were fortunate to live in Japan, West Germany, and Turkey. John also served his country in Korea, Iran, and Viet Nam. Most of his military career was with the Adjutant General Division, including his positions at Ft Riley, in Viet Nam, and at V Corps in Frankfurt, Germany. Other assignments were with the Office of the Chief of Staff at the Pentagon, and serving as Deputy Commander and Director for Security and Military Operations at Seneca Army Depot, NY.

Although John retired in 1979, he did not slow down, becoming involved in civic and political affairs. He worked with military service organizations including the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) and the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). Among his accomplishments: Helping to change Kansas law so that military retirement pay was no longer taxed, working for the addition of a Desert Storm section to the First Division Monument in Washington DC, and contributing to the establishment of the Kansas Veterans Cemetery System. During his term as Geary County Commissioner, the Geary County Courthouse was renovated, the historic Pennell Building was restored, and the Geary branch of Cloud Community College was established. He taught at the College of Business at Kansas State University for 8 years. In addition, he served on the boards of the Geary County Heart Association and the Quivira District of the Boy Scouts of America, and was an active member of the Republican Party. He was an Elder of the Presbyterian Church. John and Janie enjoyed visiting with family, entertaining friends, traveling, and cheering the KSU Wildcats at home football games.

The family would like to thank his caregivers from Geary County Home Health and Comfort Keepers for their excellent work, which allowed John to remain at home with Janie despite declining health during his last years.

Even though John will be greatly missed by his family, he will be remembered for his intelligence, his sense of humor, and for the many contributions he made during his military and civilian careers.

Memorial contributions have been designated to the Frist Presbyterian Church, 113 W. 5th Street, Junction City, KS 66441 and the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.