Obituary of Anastas Tasseff

Anastas "'Ernie"' Tasseff passed away suddenly on Thursday, June 28, 2012. He was born April 11, 1931 in Massillon, Ohio. He was 81 years of age. Ernie, as he was known to all, served his country in the Korean War and soon after became a member of the 10th Special Forces Group and was one of the country's earliest Green Berets. He ended his 21 year career in the military in 1968 as a Sergeant Major and Head ROTC Instructor at Bucknell University. After serving his country, he continued in the Special Forces Association Family the remainder of his life. Upon retiring from the military he moved his family to Mogadore, Ohio and worked for General Tire until his retirement from General in 1988. Ernie and his wife were volunteer workers for the National Institute Refugee Settlement for persons and families from Serbia, Bosnia and Croatia from 1995 to the present. Ernie was the Director of the Mogadore Bantam Football Team in 1971 and 1972. He enjoyed helping the football programs of Mogadore in any way possible and particularly loved watching his sons and grandsons play football and other sports. He attended and had been a member of St. Archangel Michael Serbian Orthodox Church since 1969. He supported the church with great love and passion that only Christ himself could know. He will be missed not just by his family, but by many in the community. Preceded in death by his brother, Tom, Ernie is survived by his wife, Helen of 57 years; sons, Bill and his wife Linda, Dan and his wife Kathy; daughter, Nancy and her husband Tom Joyce; brothers, Alex and John; and sister, Helen Woolley; grandchildren, Ryan, Emily, Brennan and Hannah Tasseff, Tom Joyce, Jason West, Natalie Kelly, and great-grandson, Jude Kelly.