Cpl. Lonnie Lejeune

Cpl. Lonnie Lejeune, 58, of the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) and retired Navy chief, passed away Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, in St. Louis.

Lonnie joined the MSHP in 1995 and was most recently assigned to the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division. After serving faithfully and honorably for 27 years, Lonnie was scheduled to retire in July 2023.

Lonnie was a true patriot and perhaps best known for having a big heart and always lending a helping hand to anyone in need. In his downtime, he loved restoring classic cars in his custom-built workshop and spending time with family, friends and his numerous beloved dogs.

Born July 13, 1963, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, to the late Herman Lejeune and Gladys Toler, Lonnie went on to graduate from Douglas Byrd High School in 1981. While there, he was a member of the ROTC Honor Guard.

In April 1982, Lonnie entered the U.S. Navy and proudly served on active duty until April 1988. He was a submarine sonar basic maintenance technician aboard the USS Hammerhead and deployed often around the world in defense of the United States. Later, in 2003, Lonnie enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserves as a master at arms first class. Throughout his 23 years in the Reserves, he deployed to locations such as Bahrain; Iraq; Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and Ali Al Salem Airbase in Kuwait, where he worked with U.S. Customs. He was selected for numerous honors and assignments and awarded three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medals, five Good Conduct Awards, and earned the title of Qualified Submarine Warfare Specialist. His greatest Navy accomplishment was promoting to the rank of chief petty officer in 2006 before his retirement from the Reserves.

Alongside his distinguished military career, Lonnie pursued another passion -- law enforcement -- starting as a uniformed officer with the Raleigh, North Carolina, Police Department. Following that, he accepted a position in the 69th Recruit Class of the MSHP in 1995. He fulfilled many special assignments as a trooper including U.S. Department of Transportation schools in Jefferson City; Federal Nuclear School, Las Vegas, Nevada; Joplin, Missouri, tornado support; Poplar Bluff, Missouri, flood relief; Wappapello, Missouri, flood relief; Ferguson, Missouri; The Verdict; Day of Resistance; Stockley Verdict; presidential debates of Presidents Trump/Clinton and President Trump's visit to Cape Girardeau. His personal accolades include the Life Saving Award, the Department of Public Safety Employee of the Month, the Hank Johnson Award, Trooper of the Year and the Medal of Honor from the Police Chiefs Association.

Lonnie is survived by his wife of 21 years, Jeannie Gossett Lejeune, of the home in Sikeston, Missouri. He is also survived by his two sons, Bradley (Haleigh) Coleman and Lonnie Dale Lejeune, both of Sikeston; brother, Lloyd (Renee) Lejeune of Fayetteville; two sisters, Lisa Lejeune Kiser of Sanford, North Carolina, and Lori Lejeune of Iron Mountain, Michigan; father- and mother-in-law, Dale and Joan Gossett of Sikeston; and brother-in-law, Kenneth (Tammy) Gossett of Eagle River, Alaska.

Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. today at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston.

Funeral service will be Friday at the Sikeston High School Field House, 200 Pine St. in Sikeston. Interment with full U.S. military and Missouri State Highway Patrol Honors will immediately follow at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.

Law Enforcement personnel are requested to stage at the Miner Convention Center off Interstate 55 prior to Friday's service. Missouri State Highway Patrol representatives will direct the procession to the field house.

Pallbearers will be retired Navy BU1 (SCW) Jerald Talbert, Navy MAC(FMF) (Retired) Danny Williford, Navy MAC (Retired) David Markham, MSHP Capt. Ben Jones, MSHP Master Sgt. Douglas McDaniel and MSHP Cpl. Josh Doyle. Honorary pallbearers are Navy Lt. Keith Almond, Lonnie Dale Lejeune, Bradley Coleman, Lloyd Lejeune, Kenneth Gossett and Gentry Friend.

Memorial donations may be made in Lonnie's honor to the Sikeston PAWS Humane Society, 1900 Compress Road, Sikeston, MO 63801.

Services will be viewable on the Ponder Funeral Home webcast or www.nationalwebcasts.com/webcasts/ponder/.

Online condolences may be made at www.southernfuneralservices.com.