Col. John B. (Ret.) Wine
September 6, 1921 — August 21, 2017
He was a hero among heroes, and a leader of the Greatest Generation. After fighting his last battle, Colonel John B. Wine, 95, of Columbus, Ga., passed away peacefully on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017 at Wynnbrook Baptist Church, 500 River Knoll Way, Columbus, Ga., 31904, with Dr. Kevin Calhoun officiating. The family will receive friends following the service at the church.
Colonel Wine was born September 6, 1921, in Brookfield, Mo., son of the late Ivan Wine and Clara Lockwood Wine. He entered the U.S. Army soon after graduating from high school. After finishing Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant of Infantry. He joined the 28th Infantry Division in Europe and was assigned as the 1st Platoon Leader of F Company, 112th Infantry. He was wounded during the first incursion on German soil at Wallendorf, Germany. Other major battles in which he participated were the Hurtgen Forest, The Battle of the Bulge, and the Colmar Pocket. Wounded again during the battle of the Colmar Pocket, John was evacuated through medical channels to the United States. His military awards and decorations include the Combat Infantry Badge, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Legion of Merit. Later in his career, he was inducted into the Infantry Hall of Fame at Fort Benning.
In 1945, after a series of hospital stays, Colonel Wine was transferred to Carson General Hospital, Colorado, for rehabilitation. It was here he met the lovely Christine Madden, who was a wage analyst on post. They were married at Camp Carson in 1946. After a tour in Korea, they began an interesting life in the Army. First at Fort Lewis, Washington, where he was appointed aide-de-camp to a major general. This opened exciting adventures and travels to places including New York; Italy; Salzburg, Austria; and Stuttgart, Germany. During a three-year assignment in Abilene, Texas, he earned most of his college credits at McMurry College.
During the enrollment of Civil Rights activist James Meredith into the University of Mississippi, Colonel Wine was assigned to the Justice Department as the Army liaison officer. Upon completion of this assignment, he received a letter of commendation from Attorney General Robert Kennedy.
After retiring from the Army in 1971, John earned his broker's license and became Owner/Broker of Century 21 John Wine Realty in Columbus. He served on numerous committees and as state director for the Columbus Board of Realtors and was elected president of the Realty Multi-List Inc. in 1992 and again in 1996. He received the prestigious Demar McEathern Award for outstanding contributions to Realty Multi-List Inc. and the real estate profession.
John enjoyed many hobbies including deep sea fishing, ornate wood carving, flying his Mooney airplane and collecting and restoring antique clocks.
Left to cherish John's memory are his loving wife of 72 years, Cora Christine Madden Wine; daughters Christine Burke (Patrick) and Martha Christie (David); granddaughter Christina Christie; sisters-in-law Frances Bowen and Maryellen Smith; and beloved nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Columbus Hospice House, 7020 Moon Road, Columbus, Ga., 31909, www.columbushospice.com.
500 River Knoll Way
Columbus, GA, 31904
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017 at Wynnbrook Baptist Church, 500 River Knoll Way, Columbus, Ga., 31904, with Dr. Kevin Calhoun officiating. The family will receive friends following the service at the church.
Colonel Wine was born September 6, 1921, in Brookfield, Mo., son of the late Ivan Wine and Clara Lockwood Wine. He entered the U.S. Army soon after graduating from high school. After finishing Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant of Infantry. He joined the 28th Infantry Division in Europe and was assigned as the 1st Platoon Leader of F Company, 112th Infantry. He was wounded during the first incursion on German soil at Wallendorf, Germany. Other major battles in which he participated were the Hurtgen Forest, The Battle of the Bulge, and the Colmar Pocket. Wounded again during the battle of the Colmar Pocket, John was evacuated through medical channels to the United States. His military awards and decorations include the Combat Infantry Badge, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Legion of Merit. Later in his career, he was inducted into the Infantry Hall of Fame at Fort Benning.
In 1945, after a series of hospital stays, Colonel Wine was transferred to Carson General Hospital, Colorado, for rehabilitation. It was here he met the lovely Christine Madden, who was a wage analyst on post. They were married at Camp Carson in 1946. After a tour in Korea, they began an interesting life in the Army. First at Fort Lewis, Washington, where he was appointed aide-de-camp to a major general. This opened exciting adventures and travels to places including New York; Italy; Salzburg, Austria; and Stuttgart, Germany. During a three-year assignment in Abilene, Texas, he earned most of his college credits at McMurry College.
During the enrollment of Civil Rights activist James Meredith into the University of Mississippi, Colonel Wine was assigned to the Justice Department as the Army liaison officer. Upon completion of this assignment, he received a letter of commendation from Attorney General Robert Kennedy.
After retiring from the Army in 1971, John earned his broker's license and became Owner/Broker of Century 21 John Wine Realty in Columbus. He served on numerous committees and as state director for the Columbus Board of Realtors and was elected president of the Realty Multi-List Inc. in 1992 and again in 1996. He received the prestigious Demar McEathern Award for outstanding contributions to Realty Multi-List Inc. and the real estate profession.
John enjoyed many hobbies including deep sea fishing, ornate wood carving, flying his Mooney airplane and collecting and restoring antique clocks.
Left to cherish John's memory are his loving wife of 72 years, Cora Christine Madden Wine; daughters Christine Burke (Patrick) and Martha Christie (David); granddaughter Christina Christie; sisters-in-law Frances Bowen and Maryellen Smith; and beloved nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Columbus Hospice House, 7020 Moon Road, Columbus, Ga., 31909, www.columbushospice.com.
Memorial Service
AUG 24. 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (EDT)
Wynnbrook Baptist Church500 River Knoll Way
Columbus, GA, 31904
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Col. John B. (Ret.) Wine, please visit our flower store.