Kenneth Schlasinger

Schlasinger, Kenneth, Colonel USAF (Ret) Minnetonka. He was born in 1917 in Streeter, ND. Preceded in death by infant son, Cory; brother, Larry, who died as a result of wounds suffered in WWII; sisters, Ethel Overby (Kermit); Florence Sigal (Sam); and Marcella Wallace (Everett). Survived by wife of 64 years, Letitia (Tish); son, Larry and his wife Anna and their son, Evan; daughter and son-in-law, Marilyn and Tom Krausert; granddaughter, Debbie Krausert (Kent Sanderson); grandson, Nate Krausert; great-granddaughter, Emma Krausert; and brother-in-law, Dick Post and his wife Virginia. Also by loving nieces & nephews. Following graduation from UND, Grand Forks, in 1939, Ken worked at the Eau Claire, WI News as a reporter and then as the managing editor of the East Grand Forks Record. With the prospect of the US entering WWII, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet July, 1941. He was called to duty November, 1941, at Kelly Field, Texas and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt April, 1942 and then assigned to the 310th Bomb Group and deployed to England October, 1942. He flew 50 missions during his duty in the ETO (European Theater of Operations) and North Africa. In July, 1943 he flew as lead bombardier in a formation attacking a German military marshalling yard at Naples, Italy. Upon approach to the target, intense anti-aircraft shelling ensued and he was painfully wounded about the face and legs. With determination he was able to return to his bombsight and guide his group on an accurate and successful mission. For this heroic action he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Force’s highest honor, along with the Purple Heart. During his subsequent missions he was shot down twice, surviving both these encounters with only minor injuries. His other awards include the Air Medal with 9 oak leaf clusters, the American Defense Medal, Europe, Africa and Middle East campaigns with 3 battle stars, WWII Victory Medal and 2 Presidential Citations. After flying 50 missions in the ETO, he returned to the US and was assigned to the Training Command, 4th Air Force, March Field, CA using his extensive combat experience to train new pilots and air crews. He was honorably discharged from active duty Dec. 1945 and immediately enlisted in the Air Force Reserve. In 1957, following the establishment of the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, he was assigned as Liaison Officer for the state of Minnesota working directly with the Minnesota Congressmen to nominate potential candidates for the Academy. In 1974 he was honored as the Academy’s Outstanding Liaison Officer. He retired from the military in 1977 as a full Colonel. During his civilian life Ken worked as an advertising executive with several Twin Cities advertising agencies. His many interests included hunting, fishing, boating, golf, tennis and snow skiing. He was a recipient of the “Good Neighbor” award from WCCO radio, had his own ski show on WCCO TV and was a Commander of the Minnetonka Power Squadron. He was the president of the Minnesota chapter of the Retired Officers Association, a member of the Distinguished Flying Cross Association, and the Hopkins chapter of the Purple Heart. In the words of his son Larry, there was never a finer man, father, husband or person than Ken. Memorials are preferred to the Larry Schlasinger Memorial Fund, UND Foundation, University of North Dakota, c/o Dave Miedema, Grand Forks, ND, 58202. Private interment Friday, March 9, Ft. Snelling National Cemetery. www.Washburn-McReavy.com Strobeck Johnson Chapel 952 938-9020