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A native of central Minnesota, John was born September 6, 1959 in Kandiyohi, MN to Jack and Ruth Tait. He grew up working on his family farm before entering the United States Air Force in 1978. John served 22 years with a distinguished military career in the Air Force. Duty stations include Kadena Air Base, Japan; Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska; Yongsan Garrison, Republic of Korea; Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska; and the Pentagon. After retiring from military service, John laid the foundation for Blackwood Management, Inc. and grew it into one of the largest locally owned commercial property management businesses in the greater Fredericksburg area.
On November 29, 1986, he married Monica Kim. Their love story began in Seoul and they raised two daughters, Jessica and Jackie, during their 34 years of marriage.
John had a passion for adventure and lived his life by the motto Carpe Diem, “seize the day.†John was a lifelong outdoorsman and modern mountain man with passions for hunting, fishing, hiking and diving. As a young man he was a gunsmith and worked at Yellowstone National Park before a need for adventure drove him to enlist.
John was preceded in death by his father, Jack. John is survived by his wife Monica, his two daughters, Jessica and Jackie, his son-in-law Kyle, his mother Ruth, his sister Susy, his three brothers, Thomas, Michael, and Paul, and many cherished relatives and friends.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 9, 2020, at Mullins and Thompson Funeral Service, 186 Shelton Shop Road, Stafford, VA 22554. John will be buried at Marine Corps Base Quantico. |