John F. Mortonson

GENESEO – John F. Mortonson, 80, of Geneseo, passed away Sunday, Aug. 17, 2014, at Good Samaritan Society, Geneseo Village.

John was born Oct. 9, 1933, in Geneseo, the son of Howard and Dorothy (Mose) Mortonson. He graduated in 1952 from Geneseo High School and then served in the Army for 2 years. He married Sidney May Scott on Sept. 23, 1956, in Bowen. They celebrated their 57th anniversary last year. John graduated from AIC in Davenport, Iowa, and began working as bookkeeper for Midway Oil Co. in Rock Island, from which he retired in 1994, after 29 years. He was a Geneseo firefighter for 27 years, a 4-H leader for 37 years, and a multi-gallon blood donor for the American Red Cross. John was a member of First United Methodist Church in Geneseo. In later years, he worked for Geneseo Communications Telephone Co., before his retirement in 2011.

Survivors include his wife; three children, Debra Mortonson of Sterling, Steve (Shellie) Mortonson of Rock Falls, and Diane Rodgers of Danville, New Hampshire; seven grandchildren, Todd Mortonson, Tanner Mortonson, Ashley Atwell, Andrea Rodgers, Bobbie Blumhoff, Mitchell (Stacey) Hummel, and Randee (Brandon) Johnson; three great-grandchildren, Hanna Blumhoff, Isabelle Blumhoff, and Cohen Johnson; and one sister: Janice (Charles) Calhoun of Geneseo.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday and the funeral at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Vandemore Funeral Home in Geneseo, with the Rev. Chris Ritter officiating. Burial, with military honors accorded by Don Cherry Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5083, will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Geneseo.

The John Mortonson Memorial Fund has been established.

Visit vandemorefuneralhome.com to send condolences.