John Christian

KEWANEE — John F. Christian, 91, a resident of Hope Creek Care Center in East Moline, formerly of Kewanee, died at 4:01 p.m. Tuesday, June 5, 2018, at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf, Iowa.

He was born Jan. 11, 1927, in Annawan, the son of Edward and Helen (DeClercq) Christian. He married Martha H. Russelburg July 12, 1948, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tiskilwa. She preceded him in death on May 28, 2014.

John was raised and had lived in Mineral until moving to Kewanee in 1987. He graduated from Mineral High School in 1944 and from Barber College in Peoria. He served his country in U.S. Navy during World War II, from 1944 to 1945, on the USS Bryant stationed in Treasure Island, Calif. In his early years, he had owned and operated John’s Barber Shop in Sheffield and then later worked for LTV Steel in Hennepin.

He was a member of Saint John Paul II Parish and had been a member of the former St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Kewanee. He was also a 73-year member of Post 1031 Clark-Carrington American Legion in Mineral and the United Steel Workers Union.

He was an inductee of the Mineral Leopards Basketball Hall of Fame. He enjoyed woodworking, gardening, telling jokes and especially spending time with his Russelburg family and his children and grandchildren. The fondest memories of his grandchildren were his storytelling and the unforgettable entertainment he provided them with.

Survivors include four children, Steve (Sharon) Christian of Geneseo, Cheryl Kerr of Kewanee, Greg (Laurie) Christian of East Moline and Roxanne (Wayne) Nash of Rock Island; a stepbrother, Ronald (Marilyn) Jensen of Annawan; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

He was also preceded in death by his parents; his stepmother, Miriam Christian; a son-in-law, Dick Kerr; and a great-grandson, Steven L. Christian.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 9, at Saint John Paul II Parish in Kewanee, with Father Johndamaseni Zilimu as celebrant. Visitation will be from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Saturday at the Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, where military rites will be accorded by the Kewanee Veterans Council.

Memorials may be directed to the activities department at Hope Creek Care Center.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Hope Creek Care Center for the TLC and comfort they have provided for the past four years.’

This obituary may be viewed and private condolences left at www.ruxfuneralhome.com.