John Jude Lahr

John “Jude” Lahr went to his forever home to be with the Lord on May 14, 2023. He was preceded in death by his parents Norbert and Lucella Lahr of St. Cloud, MN, his only brother, Tom Lahr of Minneapolis, MN, his beloved wife, Janice Lahr of Starbuck, MN and his children Michael and Tony. He leaves behind a daughter Christina Gordon and her husband Dave of Roanoke, VA and their children John, Katie and Sarah and his son Jay Lahr and his wife Sandra of El Paso, TX and their children, Desiree and Michael. Jude was born and raised in St. Cloud, MN and attended Cathedral Catholic High School and went from there to Collegeville, MN to St. Johns Catholic University. He was raised Catholic and stayed committed to the church and devoted to God his whole life. At college he met and married the true love of his life, Jan. They were happily married for 68 years and it broke his heart when she passed away suddenly last year. Jude joined the Navy 1953 and had a distinguished career flying jets off carriers to serve our country. He absolutely loved what he did and was exceptional at it. He flew 6680 hours and 230 dangerous missions over Vietnam during the war and received 4 Distinguished Flying Crosses and 23 additional Air Medals. He was a member of the most prestigious naval aviators group called the Golden Eagles. He retired in 1983 having made many, many friends while he was in service. He loved his Navy buddies like they were his brothers and kept in touch with most of them by phone, visits and annual reunions. Jude had a passion for life. He was a skilled fisherman and loved sitting in a boat enjoying God's beauty, just waiting for that big walleye to bite! He also loved hunting, skiing, playing golf and even an occasional tennis game. He loved flying so much that he owned his own plane for awhile so he could fly around the country visiting all of his friends and go back and forth to his cottage on the lake in Minnesota during the summers. He retired permanently in Albuquerque, NM but spent the last year of his life in Roanoke, VA to be near his family. When he wasn’t participating in sports, he was watching it on television. He was an avid fan of the Minnesota Twins in the summer, and the Vikings in the winter. He also followed Minnesota hockey and football played by college teams , “Gophers” and “Johnnies.” Many fun filled hours were spent rooting for his teams in a bar, if he couldn’t get it on his TV. Whether he was in Albuquerque or in Minnesota he loved the simple pleasures of life…enjoying a martini with friends and family while sitting on the deck at the lake or taking in the majestic rocky mountains from his patio in New Mexico. He also enjoyed frying fresh fish that he caught that day or grilling a thick, juicy steak for dinner. He loved being around people and could tell jokes better than anyone, especially “Ole and Lena” jokes, complete with a Norwegian accent. He was a wonderful husband, father and friend and a true American hero. He will be sorely missed by many. We must try not to grieve but rejoice that he is with his heavenly Father and those he loved, who went before him. The funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of Nazareth Catholic Church on Electric Road in Roanoke, VA on June 8, 2023 at 11:00 and a celebration with friends and family to follow at Woodland Hills, 3365 Ogden Road, Roanoke, VA at 1:00. All are welcome to attend either or both. Memorial contributions are welcomed by Jude's favorite charities-Wounded Warrior Project (https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate) or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html). Interment to be held at Arlington National Cemetery in 2024.