John L. Sullivan, 83, of Moorhead, MN, passed away suddenly after a lengthy illness on Feb. 16, 2004, at Merit Care Hospital in Fargo, ND.
John Leo Sullivan was born on September 25, 1920, in Caledonia, ND, to Michael Leo and Minnie (Doeden) Sullivan. He was educated at St. Mary's Catholic School in Fargo.
On October 11, 1941, he was united in marriage to Vivienne Marsh in Nebraska. He served in World War II in the Battle of the Bulge, the Battle of Normandy, in France and Belgium. He rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant for the No. 1 Howitzer 'Snowball' of Battery B. He was awarded the Bronze Star during his enlistment in the army. After being discharged from the army he became part owner of the Veterans Cleaners located on NP Avenue in Fargo.
In 1951 John joined the Moorhead Police Force. In 1958 he became captain and rose to the rank of the first Deputy Chief of Police in 1970. He continued as Deputy Chief until 1978 when he was promoted to Acting Chief of Police. John retired from the police force in 1980 after serving the city of Moorhead for 29 years. During the years that he was a policeman, he was involved in School Safety Patrol and Bike Safety, visiting the Moorhead elementary schools promoting bicycle safety. John was the first motorcycle patrolman in Moorhead. He also worked with the boy scouts. In 2002 he received a DIPLOME from the Minister of Defense in France for his service in France during the war from 1944-1945. John was a life member of the VFW and the American Legion in Moorhead.
John enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, driving wrecker, collecting John Deere memorabilia, and 'putzing and dinging' (keeping busy) at his lake cabin on Devils Lake, MN.
He is survived and sadly missed by four daughters and one son, Juli (Dan) Neumann, Orange Park, FL, Verlee Sullivan, Graceville, MN, Roxanne (Michael Larson) Dahl, Dilworth, MN, John (Lisa) Sullivan, West Fargo, ND, and Penny (Harvey) Moos, Moorhead; thre
Visitation will be at the Korsmo Funeral Chapel, Moorhead, Thursday, February 19 from 4-8 PM with a prayer service at 7 PM. The funeral for John L. Sullivan will be Friday, February 20, 2004, at 2 PM at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Moorhead.