John Staller

Plankinton

John “Joe” Staller, 71, of Plankinton, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls. 

Funeral services were held Tuesday, Dec. 27, at the United Methodist Church in Plankinton. Burial was at Mizpah Cemetery in Plankinton. Visitation was Monday, Dec. 26, at Plankinton United Methodist with a prayer service. Arrangements were by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

John Joseph Staller was born Jan. 10, 1951, in Plankinton, to Edwin and Arlene Staller. Joe attended school in Plankinton, where he graduated in 1969.

Upon graduation from high school, he joined the Navy in June 1969. After graduating from basic training, he attended Yeoman “A” school. He was then assigned to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, Fifteenth Naval District, Fort Amador, Panama Canal Zone. His next assignment was with Antarctic Development Squadron SIX, homeported at Quonset Point, R.I. He made two deployments to McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Joe separated from the Navy in March 1973.

Joe returned home to Plankinton, where he was united in marriage to Sherry Tobin on May 3, 1974. Shortly after, Joe decided to return to active duty in October 1974. His next assignment took him to the USS Jouett homeported in San Diego, Calif.

Following this tour, he was selected for Flag Writer School at Fort Benjamin Harrison Indianapolis, Ind. His next tour of duty was with Staff, Chief of Naval Operations Test and Evaluation. During this tour, he was selected for Chief Petty Officer and assigned to commander Amphibious Group Eastern Pacific. His next assignments were with Commander Naval Surface Force U.S. Pacific Fleet as Flag Writer for the Deputy Commander and then the Commander. His next duty assignment took him aboard the USS Okinawa, where he completed three deployments, including minesweeping operations following the Iran/Iraq war. He was selected for Senior Chief during this time.

Staying at sea, he next reported to Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 113. He made two deployments on board the USS Independence. Returning to shore duty, he reported to Fighter Squadron 124, the largest squadron in the US Navy. During this tour, he was promoted to Master Chief Petty Officer. This next tour brought him aboard the USS Chancellorsville as Command Master Chief. His final duty was with the Naval Dental Center in San Diego as Command Master Chief, where he retired in 2001 after 30 years in the service.

Upon retirement, he worked for Vanguard Industries in Carlsbad, Calif. In February 2005, Joe and Sherry moved back to Plankinton, where he volunteered with the Plankinton Fire Department until 2020. He was an active life member of VFW Post 655. He was a member of American Legion Post 5, as well as a member of the United Methodist Church. He had served on the City Council and was currently serving as Mayor of Plankinton.

Joe is survived by his wife, Sherry of Plankinton; daughters, Heidi (Neal) Utesch of Moville, Iowa, and Melissa (Cordell) Davis of Plankinton; five grandchildren; sister, Cheryl Bachmeier of Renton, Wash.; sister-in-law, Irene Staller of Rapid City; brothers-in-law, Ronnie (Sandy) Tobin of Plankinton, Perry Tobin of Wessington Springs, and Rick (Deb) Tobin of Woonsocket; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Delwin Staller; grandparents, John and Marie VanWormer, and Joe and Rachel Staller; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Darwin and Eileen Tobin; and great-niece, Shandra Tobin.

Comments are closed.

  • Weather

    Failure notice from provider:
    Connection Error:http_request_failed
  • Upcoming Events

    March 2024
    Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
    February 25, 2024 February 26, 2024 February 27, 2024 February 28, 2024 February 29, 2024 March 1, 2024 March 2, 2024
    March 3, 2024 March 4, 2024 March 5, 2024 March 6, 2024 March 7, 2024 March 8, 2024 March 9, 2024
    March 10, 2024 March 11, 2024 March 12, 2024 March 13, 2024 March 14, 2024 March 15, 2024 March 16, 2024
    March 17, 2024 March 18, 2024 March 19, 2024 March 20, 2024 March 21, 2024 March 22, 2024 March 23, 2024
    March 24, 2024 March 25, 2024 March 26, 2024 March 27, 2024 March 28, 2024 March 29, 2024 March 30, 2024
    March 31, 2024 April 1, 2024 April 2, 2024 April 3, 2024 April 4, 2024 April 5, 2024 April 6, 2024
  • Recent Posts

  • Contact Us

    Ph/Fax: 605.796.4221
    Email: swj4221@icloud.com

    PO BOX 218
    Woonsocket, SD 57385
  • Archives