Ret. U.S. Army Col. John Jacob Harris, 88, of Lansing, died Aug. 6, 2020, at KU Medical Center after an emergency surgery. He was born the oldest of five children Sept. 30, 1931, in Clarington, Ohio.

John served his country in both the Army and Air Force. He initially served in the Air Force during the Korean War and then served in the Army as a Field Artilleryman and a Green Beret. He served tours in Vietnam, Germany and throughout the continental US. He retired in 1980 as a Colonel. John’s civilian career was that of a history teacher in Virginia Beach, Va. He moved back to Leavenworth after retiring from teaching. John’s interests included hunting, fishing and wood carving - specifically birds and ducks.

John is survived by two daughters, Patricia Dudley and her husband Bob, and Vicki Silverman and her husband Larry; three grandchildren, Robert Dudley Jr., Lina Silverman and David Silverman; one great granddaughter, Willow Dudley; and his four siblings, Ron Koloski, Pat Burton, Mike Koloski, and Phil Koloski.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Martha.

He will be inurned at Leavenworth National Cemetery with his wife 10 a.m., Friday, October 2, 2020. Arrangements in care of R.L. Leintz Funeral Home.