Jack Ries

John F. “Jack” Ries, age 78, of New Philadelphia, died Thursday, April 24, 2008 in Aultman Hospital at Canton following a brief illness.Born on October 13, 1929, in Zanesville, Ohio, Jack was the son of the late Herbert S. and Leona C. Ferrell Ries.Jack attended Eastern High School in Detroit, Michigan and later joined the United States Navy.While serving during the Korean War, Jack was one of the 30, 000 United Nations troops involved the battle of the Chosin Reservoir. Due to the extremely cold weather conditions that faced the troops during this battle, those who fought earned the nicknames; the “Frozen Chosin” or “The Chosin Few.”As an active member in the Marine Corps League, Jack was the first Naval Corpsman to ever be elected as Commandant of any local chapter.On June 25, 1955 Jack married the former Rosemarie Maistrelli and together the couple celebrated forty-six years of marriage until her passing in November, 2001.Jack was an avid big game hunter and donated fourteen different animals to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History including a Grand Slam of Big Horn wild sheep.Additionally, Jack was an avid golfer and traveler. He and his second wife, Gay, whom he married December 5, 2004, traveled all over the United States to many of our country’s national parks and more recently completed a month long tour of national parks throughout Nevada.Mr. Ries is survived by his wife, Gay, and five step children, John ( Elaine) Deems of Henderson, Nevada, Zack (Maury) Deems of Dover, Molly (Karl) Milam of Senecaville, Ohio, Sally (Denny) Mogyordy of Sheffield Lake, Ohio and Hallie Mason and her companion Steve Clarke of New Philadelphia; seven step grandchildren, Sydney, Natalie, and John Deems, Anna and Lilly Deems, Gracie & Garrett Milam; and a brother in law, F.R. “Dick” (Judy) Tolloti of New Philadelphia.From Jack’s first marriage, one sister in law, and two brothers in law as well as numerous nieces and nephews complete the family.A Memorial Mass will be celebrated by Monsignor George J. Schlegel on Wednesday, April 30, 2008, at 10:30AM in Sacred Heart Catholic Church at New Philadelphia. Following the mass, a luncheon will be held in Saint Ambrose Hall, adjacent to the church where the family will have a time to greet those in attendance. An inurnment service will follow in Ohio Western Reserve Cemetery at Rittman.At the family’s request, memorial contributions in Jack’s name may be made to Toys for Tots, Tuscarawas County Marine Corps League, 4853 Aubihl Road SW, New Philadelphia, Ohio, 44663.