LERAYSVILLE, PA, USA U.S. Army CW4, COMPANY A, 1ST BATTALION, 82D AVIATION, FORT BRAGG, NC BALAD, IRAQ 11/06/2006
Chief Warrant Officer 4, John Richard Priestner, 42, of Sanford, N.C., and formerly of LeRaysville, Pa., died in the line of duty in Iraq on Nov. 6, 2006.
Chief Warrant Officer John R. Priestner, 42, was the pilot in charge when the AH-64 Apache helicopter crashed during a night flight, his father, Richard Priestner of LeRaysville, said.
John was born on July 8, 1964, in Paterson, N.J., a son of Richard Priestner and Linnea Priestner. He was a graduate of Northeast Bradford High School Class of 1982.
Following graduation he attended Keystone College. John enlisted into the United States Air Force, where he served his country for two years. Upon an honorable discharge from the Air Force, he entered into the U.S. Army and proudly served his country in Afghanistan from November 2002 to August 2003. He was a veteran of Operation Desert Storm; and deployed for Iraq on July 22, 2006, to serve during Iraqi Freedom.
On Jan. 30, 1988, at the St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Little Meadows, Pa., he married Teresa Lutz. Together they had 18 wonderful years.
John is survived by his wife, Teresa Priestner; daughters and pride and joy, Breanne, 14, and Megan Priestner, 10; father, Richard Priestner of LeRaysville, Pa.; mother, Linnea Priestner of North Charleston, S.C.; twin brother, Roger (Linda) Priestner of LeRaysville;
sister, Sue (Robert) Drag of Minnesota; mother-in-law, Gail Lutz of Warren Center; brothers-in-law, Michael Lutz of Warren Center and Richard (Amy) Lutz of Clayton, N.C.; his nieces and nephews, Seth and Lindsey Priestner, and Michael, Sandy and Eddie Drag; niece and nephew (and his godchildren) Gracie and Jacob Lutz, and Dakota and Joshua Lutz. In addition he will be greatly missed by several aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends.
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