~ IN MEMORY ~
WA/DL Capt. Karl Irving Lassey
October 21, 1934 – August 19, 2019
KARL IRVING LASSEY, of San Juan Capistrano, CA was born in Kansas to Maurine Gladys Savage and Jay Gwynn Lassey on 20 Oct 1934. He departed this life on 19 Aug 2019, surrounded by his children in his own home.
Karl delivered the “Salina Journal” and participated in many activities, while attending Miltonvale [KS] High School and graduated in 1952. He graduated from Bethany College [Lindsborg, KS] with an associated degree in 1954 and North Texas State [Denton, TX] in 1956 with a bachelor’s degree in music.
He joined the Navy and became a Naval aviator in 1958. Karl received his wings and was pinned by Jacqueline Norman, his wife at the time. He was deployed in 1958 on the “USS Hancock Aircraft Carrier” and the “USS Coral Sea Aircraft Carrier” in 1960 with the “Aces” Attack Squadron 152, piloting the Sky Raider. In 1961 he was promoted to Navy Lieutenant. During this time in his career, he was a Navy lawyer. In 1964, he became test pilot in Quonset Point, Rhode Island, where Lt. Lassey successfully landed an A-4 Skyhawk with a failed landing gear, saving a million-dollar plane for the Navy. In 1965 he was deployed on the “USS Kitty Hawk Aircraft Carrier” as a member of the A-4 “Stingers” Strike Fighter Squadron 113, completing 100 arrested landings, becoming a “Centurion” in 1966. In 1967 while deployed on the “USS Enterprise,” he became a Centurion for the second time and received two Distinguished Flying cross medals for his heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight and combat with the enemy. Karl served two tours of duty in Vietnam and was promoted to Lieutenant Commander. He retired from the Navy in 1968, after 30 years of serving his country.
Karl loved flying and obtained his commercial pilot license for the Cherokee 149 plane. Karl was hired first by Western Airlines, and later Delta Airlines, as a commercial pilot, staying in that position for 25 years, retiring in 1995.
Karl married Jacqueline Norman in September 1958. Together they had two children: Nancy and Kelly. They divorced in 1968. In 1969, Karl became a Cub Scout Leader for his son Kelly’s troop. Karl had been a Cub Scout as a child with his Dad as his leader. That year he also joined the “Orange County Doctor’s Band,” which was a jazz band made of musicians who were in other professions, to play his trumpet and flugelhorn. He stayed an active playing member until 1994. Karl bought a home in San Juan Capistrano in 1969, where he remained until his passing. About 1969 he purchased his first sailboat, and named her ‘Sola Via’ for Western Airlines’ slogan, which meant “the only way to fly”.
Karl married Sally Ann Drummond McGraw on 29 Dec 1971; they celebrated 47 years together before she passed in May 1919. Karl is survived by his children: three daughters, Nancy Lassey, Kelly McGraw-Martino, and Erin McGraw; and son Sean (Scott Lahon) McGraw; two sisters: Linda Braun (Melvin) of Miltonvale, KS; and Sharon (Bob) Meadows of Huntington Beach, CA, and one brother Greg Lassey (Anne) of Peck, KS.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Sally Ann, parents, and two sons, Patrick McGraw and Kelly Scott Lassey. He leaves to mourn four children, three siblings, 15 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and 8 great-great grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and countless friends.
He enjoyed life, exploring many hobbies, including photography, backpacking, motorcycle riding, traveling the world, playing jazz, racing his sailboat, flying his twin Cessna, amateur ham radio and motorhome camping with Sam’s Radio Hams Club.
Karl was an extraordinary man, though humble, and rarely talked of the many things he accomplished unless asked. He is missed and remembered by all those who knew and loved him.
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