JOHN LEGERSKI, JR.
FEBRUARY 27, 1917 - JUNE 1, 2009

John Legerski, Jr., 92, of Sheridan, Wyoming died Monday, June 1, 2009 at Sheridan County Memorial Hospital with family at his side. John was born February 27, 1917 in Kleenburn, Wyoming to John Legerski, Sr. and Julia (Antonova) Legerski. He grew up on the family ranch at Kruse Creek East of Big Horn, Wyoming. He attended elementary and high school at Big Horn. He married Nina Mae Scott, the light of his life, on January 18, 1941 at Hardin, Montana. John worked at various jobs, including as a cowboy at local ranches, as a heavy equipment mechanic at Peter Kiewit Sons, before joining the Army during World War II. He was assigned to and trained with the 1269th Combat Engineers at Camp Chafee, Arkansas and Fort Knox, Kentucky. The 1269th then embarked from New York City to Marseilles, France. He was wounded in Nice, France and was hospitalized for 100 days. Afterward, he rejoined his outfit, which battled their way through the French Alps into southern Germany. The 1269th engineers were the first contingent of American soldiers to enter the Dachau Death Camp which John described as horrific. John returned home to his family from the war in February, 1946. In 1951 John joined his brother Joe as an owner of the historical Brown Palace Bar, which they operated for the next thirty years until their retirement. He was preceded in death by his grandson, Brice Crosby Legerski; his parents; brothers Joseph C., Rudy R., and Edward; and sisters Mary Haratyk and Julia Yazoski; a niece, Michelle Legerski Schleyer; and nephews Edward Kilmarx III, Gregory Legerski and John Haratyk. John is survived by his loving wife Nina, three children, Colleen Ann Bushmaker, Floyd Legerski and Dr. Randy John Legerski; three grandchildren Keri R Legerski, Tamara Houghton and Scott Bushmaker; four great grandchildren, and one great-great grandson; four brothers and one sister, Andrew, Walter, William, Louis, and Alma Kilmarx. John had a great sense of humor and loved telling stories about his family and his life in Sheridan. He would often reminisce about his remarkable war experiences. John was an outdoorsman who loved the Big Horn Mountains and called Sheridan _God_s Country. He was truly a member of Tom Brokaws_The Greatest Generation. He will be greatly missed. A rosary service will be held Friday evening, June 5, at 7:00 at Champion Ferries Funeral Home. The funeral mass will be held Saturday morning at 10:00 at Holy Name Catholic Church with internment at the Elks Section, Sheridan Municipal cemetery. Memorials may benefit Holy Name Catholic School or Sheridan Senior Center.

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