In Loving Memory of Gregory D. Lassila: 1958-2023
It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of a brother, friend, veteran, and volunteer of our community, Gregory Dale Lassila, Captain, USAF, Retired.
Greg was born Dec. 15, 1958, in Richmond, KY, and passed away on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, in Olympia, WA, near his adopted home in Chehalis, WA. Greg spent most of his early life in Inkster, MI and graduated from Robichaud High School in Dearborn Heights in 1977.
Greg enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1977, and, after Basic Training (3704th BMT Squadron, Lackland AFB, TX) and intelligence school (6941st School Squadron, Goodfellow AFB, TX), he worked in security and intelligence at multiple units in Europe, Asia, and the US: 6950th Security Squadron, RAF Chicksands, UK, (1977-1979); 6903rd Electronic Security Squadron, Osan Air Base, Korea, (1979-1981); 6912th Electronic Security Group, Berlin, Germany, (1981-1983); National Security Agency, Ft. Meade, MD, (1983-1985).
After completing his Bachelor of Science (University of Maryland University College,1984), Officer Training School (Lackland AFB, TX, Distinguished Graduate, 1986), and intelligence officer school (3470th Student Squadron, Lowry AFB, CO), his first assignment as an officer was as a faculty member with DOD’s Defense Intelligence College (DIC), now the National Intelligence University, 1986-1990), where he was a Distinguished Graduate of the college’s Post Graduate Intelligence Program in 1989. After the DIC, his assignments included Headquarters, The US Logistics Group, Ankara Air Station, Turkey (1990-1992), the National Security Agency, Ft. Meade, MD (NATO Support and Latin American Planning, 1992-1995), and the Defense Intelligence Agency, Scott AFB, IL (1995-1998). While he served during the Cold War, he also had assignments for Desert Shield/Storm, Operations Provide Comfort, and Provide Hope, and also Deny Flight and Provide Promise. After his USAF retirement in 1998, Greg continued crisscrossing the globe as a security consultant with the United States government in various agencies, until fully retiring in 2012, settling in Chehalis, WA.
Greg had a love for so many interests. In 2013, he began volunteering at the Veterans Memorial Museum, Chehalis, as a docent, receptionist and, for several years, as a member of the board of directors. He was passionate about veterans in our community and served in 2023 until his death with the Lewis County, WA Veterans Advisory Board and with the Hope for Heroes program in Tenino, WA. At the time of his death, he had nearly completed his masters degree in military history. Veterans and history, especially involving his Finnish and Scottish heritage, were not his only passions as he was a Master Food Preserver through the Washington State University extension food preservation program. Greg was also passionate about his animals, which included his horse, Dragoon, and his cats. Fine clothing was also a passion, as he was always dressed in the finest vintage clothing when out in public.
Greg is preceded in death by his parents, Eino and Sally Lassila, and his eldest brother, Wendell Johnson. Survived by his sister, Karen Lassila, and his brother, John Lassila, his niece, Allison Hayost, and his nephews, Warren and Stuart Johnson, and James and Keith Bradybaugh, and his ex-wife Quahlee (Hughes) Lassila.
A memorial service, with full military honors, was held at his beloved Veterans Memorial Museum, Chehalis, WA, on Dec. 2, 2023. Greg’s earthly remains were interred on 07 June 2024 in the Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, WA.
In lieu of flowers, his family requests that a donation in his memory be made to the Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis, WA.