Jeff was born on November 15th, 1943 to Mitchell and Margaret (Wilson) in Fairbury, IL. After graduating from Piper City Community High School in 1961 he went on to study at the University of Illinois Champaign/Urbana.
While at UIUC, Jeff met his future wife. Somewhere in a business class, Jeff was sitting in class, looking all handsome in his white t-shirt, leather jacket, and slicked back hair, and Miss Janice Skilbeck was smitten. The rest is history. Jeff and Jan were married on November 27th, 1963.
After graduation, Jeff was employed by the Marine Bank in Springfield. Alas, there was another employer who also wanted his services, Uncle Sam. Being a persuasive recruiter, Jeff left the Marine Bank for Officer Training School in the Air Force, was deployed to Vietnam and eventually achieved the rank of Captain.
After leaving the Military, Jeff eventually ended up back in Springfield working for the State of Illinois, where he spent over 30 years before retiring. Jeff was also a member of the Unity Church, past president of the Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist church, a Mason, lifetime member of the NRA, and a lover of all tech and gadgets.
Jeff is survived by his children, Julia Mraz (Laurence) of Riverton and Jason Johnston (Rebecca) of Springfield along with 9 grandchildren – Michael, Bernadette, Joseph, Christopher, John (Jack), Mary Gabrielle, and Elizabeth Mraz and Joshua and Charlotte Johnston, and brother Mac Johnston (Norma) of Birchwood, WI. His sister, Janet Saban (Champaign) recently passed. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mitch and Peg, and his wife of 54 years, Jan.
Cremation was handled by National Cremation. Local services are being handled through Bisch and Son. Due to Covid, graveside services will be limited to the family at Camp Butler on April 27th @ 2:00 pm. A streamed service will be available through the Bisch and Son website. https://www.facebook.com/events/1819060348262673
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