John Howard Seagrave

John Howard Seagrave passed away peacefully on April 30, 2019, at home in Bozeman, Montana, of respiratory illness, while attended by his loved ones.



John was born in Burma, the fourth child of Gordon S. Seagrave, the Burma Surgeon, and Marion Morse Seagrave, on September 30, 1933. He attended primary school in Taungyyi, Burma, and later in Kodaicanal, India, after escaping the Japanese invasion of Burma with his mother and siblings. During WWII, he lived in Baptist missionary homes and attended schools in Ohio, Arizona, California, West Virginia, and Maryland. He graduated as an EE from MIT in 1957 and had a long career in the US Intelligence Community where he was an inventor of communications and other devices used to fight tyranny and communism during the Cold War and the Vietnam War. He went on to manage communications networks of the IC, and until he retired in 1989 was known as the man to solve complex technological and engineering challenges when all others had failed.



John married a “Swiss Miss”, Regina, in 1962, in Luzern, Switzerland. They were happily married for 57 years, until his death, and raised seven children: Cecile, Brian, Peter, Karen, Leticia, Eric, and Jesse. With words and by example he taught them God’s laws, love for fellow man, respect for all cultures, and how to apply one’s mind to learn and accomplish anything. His children are thriving and have passed these lessons on to his 16 grandchildren.

John’s loves for music, books, learning, creating, building, traveling, skiing, and solving filled his years during and after his career. While working he and Regi built one house on nights and weekends, learned the violin and cello, adopted two children, and lived in three nations (in addition to his countless short tours of duty in undisclosed locations). In retirement, he and Regi designed and built a house in Bozeman (with free family labor); and he engineered, patented, and prototyped a positive displacement turbine engine; and wrote a novel.

To whom much is given, much will be required (Luke 12:41-48). Many counted on John’s genius, ability, morality, integrity; love for family and country; and trust in God. He was an unshakeable foundation for his children, colleagues, and his friends. And because of this he was always happy, no matter the tribulations and pains of the day. He died happy and in confidence of his return to God.