Mr. John M. Breen

John Michael Breen, 80 of Bowling Green, Kentucky passed away March 29, 2025, at the Medical Center Bowling Green. Born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts August 9, 1944, the son of the late Dr. Joseph Victor Breen and Johanna Marie Van Blerck Breen. He graduated from Pittsfield High School and The TMI School of Transportation of New York. John joined the United States Army in 1964. He was awarded the outstanding soldier and achievement certificate of his Fort Dix, New Jersey combat training unit. In 1966 as a member of the 1 st Special Forces, 10 th Special Forces Group ABN, (Green Beret), he was awarded and decorated with the United States National Defense Medal and, received his honorable discharge in 1970. John spent his professional career as a Purchasing / Traffic Manager and held supply chain management positions in purchasing, materials, transportation, electronics, steel fabrication, and plastic industries in North Adams, MA, Tucson, AZ and Bowling Green, KY. John held memberships in a number of professional organizations and was the Past President of the Berkshire County Traffic Association. John was also a member of the Massachusetts Governor’s task force on Economic Development in Berkshire County, MA under Governor Michael Dukakis. John held a seat of the board of the Berkshire County March of Dimes and volunteered with Junior Achievement. No professional or occupational achievement could possibly measure up to the legacy John leaves as a husband and father. He was a loving and devoted husband to Denise for 57 years. Their love story was one for the ages and were an amazing example of a happy life starting with picking the right partner. As a father, John was unmatched. He made his children feel like they could achieve anything. He taught the importance of always telling the truth, being fair and following the Golden Rule. His military way of doing things belied the big mush inside who celebrated every one of our victories big or small and cried with us over our sorrows. His favorite designation in life was that of “Gee” as he was known to his beloved grandchildren- Jack, Grace and Berkley. John also had a deep and abiding faith life and believed with all his heart that we will be together again. He leaves his wife Lynne Denise Breen (nee Coughlin) whom he married, on July 15, 1967, a daughter Lynne Marie Harting (Michael) of Latham, NY, and son Michael Dennis Breen (Collette) of Hendersonville, TN, a brother George C. Breen (Pamela) of Orange City, FL; three grandchildren John Stanley Harting of North Royalton, OH, Grace Elizabeth Harting of Latham, NY, and Berkley Lynne Breen of Hendersonville TN; a nephew Joseph Breen of Montclair, NJ and two nieces Colleen McKearney (David) of Cheshire MA, Johanna Dushanek (Mark) of Pittsfield; and sisters-in-law Jill Sohl of Joppa, MD and Kathleen Breen of Dalton, MA. He was predeceased by his sister, Nancy Victoria McDuffey, a brother Victor Joseph Breen and sister-in- law Angela Breen. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be held on April 26, 2025, at 10AM in St. Ann Church in Lenox. Burial will follow in St. Ann Cemetery. An hour of visitation will precede the service beginning at 9AM. Donations in John’s memory may be made to the Gary Sinise Foundation https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/donate

Mr. John M. Breen

August 9, 1944 - March 29, 2025