MILL RIVER, Mass. — Lt. Col. John D. Sisson Sr. (Ret), 98, died Thursday, September 5, 2019, at his home.

He was the proud father of three, grandfather to six and great-grandfather to seven. He was married for 56 years to Mary (Molly) Ireland until her passing in 2003 and Irma (Palme) Giegold until her passing last year.

Born and raised in Pittsfield, Mass., John graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1939. After working briefly at the Lenox National Bank, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942 during WWII. He served his country with distinction as a B-17 bombardier, flying 30 missions over Germany, Hungary, Austria and Yugoslavia. After the war, he continued service with the U.S. Air Force until his retirement in 1968.  

John lived in Mill River, Mass., at his ancestral home on the Konkapot River, beginning in the early 1970s and remained there his whole life. John was an ardent genealogy student of the Sisson heritage for many years, accumulating and cataloging a wealth of lineage information over past generations. 

John was an avid community leader, Shriner and Mason of the Cincinnatus Lodge of Great Barrington. He was also an active member and past president of the New Marlborough Historical Society and served as a prominent member of the Old Parish Church for decades.

Funeral notice: A memorial service in John’s honor will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2019, at 3 p.m. at Old Parish Church in Sheffield, Mass. To send remembrances to John’s family please visit www.finnertyandstevens.com.