Emil John Leason January 11, 1931 - March 15, 2017

John was 86 years old. Born to Vince and Tillie (Michalski) Leason on January 11, 1931, the 12th of 13 children, in Benton County, Minnesota.

After farming in Minnesota, John joined the Marines in 1951 and fought in Korea earning a National Defense Service Medal, a Korean Service Medal, and a United Nations Service Medal. After an honorable discharge in 1953 John met Gertrude Clara Fussy on a bus while going home on leave and they married in 1955 in Morrill, Minnesota. They settled in Tigard, Oregon, where they raised two daughters. 

John started his construction business, U.S. Tank & Construction. Co. Inc., an industrial steel construction fabrication and erection business based in Tualatin, in 1960, fabricating and installing a variety of projects in lumber and pulp mills, as well as water tank storage for municipalities in a majority of the 50 states and Canada.

John and Gertrude bought their beloved Pine Ridge Ranch in Sisters in 1970, a cattle and hay ranch, which he had for 42 years. John also earned a private pilot's license and even had a designated airport on the ranch (Pine Ridge Ranch Airport), so he could land his tail-dragger airplane called a Maule Lunar Rocket.

John was also a proud member of the Elks and Knights of Columbus. John loved family, nature, hunting, and always looked forward to his next project.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Gertrude Clara Fussy, and all of his eight brothers and sisters.

He is survived by his two daughters: Catherine (Bill) Behan of Frisco, Texas and Victoria Leason of Redmond. Six grandchildren: Joshua, Tory, Johnny, Beau, Cody and Nicole. Five great-grandchildren: Madeline Gertrude, Clara Lynn, William Leon, Emil Loyle and Maisie Kay.

His favorite charity was St. Jude's Children's Hospital. The family also wishes to express their gratitude to Visiting Angels and Hospice of Redmond.

Funeral mass will be held April 1, at 1 p.m. at St. Edward the Martyr Roman Catholic Church in Sisters. John's fifth great-granddaughter Maisie will be baptized immediately after service.