John Edmund Beasley

Palmer, Alaska resident John Edmund Beasley, age 86, passed away on May 2, 2018 in Anchorage, Alaska. John was born March 1, 1932 in Munden, Virginia to Wayland and Lessie (Brumley) Beasley. He moved to Alaska in 1968 to work on development of the White Alice system; followed by many years in the telecommunications field culminating with his retirement from ATT-Alascom. John served his country from 1950-1953 in the United States Marine Corp and was a Korean War veteran and survived the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir. He was also the President of the “Chosin Few” organization; until his recent passing. He was an avid ham radio operator. He enjoyed boating and snow-machining to the family cabin. The family wrote: “He worked diligently on H.R. 5928, the Mt. Chosin Few Act to establish and name Mt. Chosin Few in the Chugach National Forest as a monument to his fallen brothers and fellow survivors of the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir (Nov.-Dec. 1950). He loved Alaska from the moment he stepped off the plane in 1968. An avid outdoorsman, he loved fishing on Paxon Lake and snow-machining the Big Su and Yentna. He was a great businessman, engineer, and wartime story teller; but he will be remembered most as a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.” John is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Margaret B. Beasley; daughter, Judy Beasley (Frances); daughter, Denise Mackey (Dean); son, John R. Beasley; granddaughter, Bridgett Mackey-Dyson (Jon); granddaughter, Meghan Mackey Renuart (Rob); granddaughter, Sarah Lloyd (Brandon); grandson, Christopher J. Beasley; and great-granddaughters: Peyton and Ellah. Celebration of Life will be held 3:00-5:00pm on Saturday May 26, 2018 at VFW Post #9365 – 301 E. Lake View Ave in Wasilla, Alaska. John’s ashes will be laid to rest during a private graveside ceremony at Ft. Richardson National Cemetery. Arrangements cared for by Janssen’s Mat-Su Funeral Home.