John Elmer Cherrie

John E. Cherrie was born in Danville, Illinois, April 16, 1928, to John Eldred Cherrie and Ethel (Swisher) Cherrie to a family of six children (one sister and four brothers). He went to be with the Lord April 18, 2016, Ventura, CA at age 88.

John attended Washington Community High School, graduating in 1946. He went to at the Caterpillar Company and was working there when he married Evelyn Gilliam on August 7, 1949.

John quit the Caterpillar Company and enrolled at Fort Wayne College (now Taylor University) in Upland, Indiana and graduated with a degree in engineering in 1955. He felt called to go into the mission field and along with Evelyn enrolled in the China Inland Mission (Now Overseas Fellowship), serving from 1955 – 1958 in Bangkok, Baknampho, and Bonmokang, Thailand. Evelyn became ill so they returned to Illinois where John worked with his brother, Gene in construction.

In 1960 they moved to Ventura, California where John was the founding pastor of the Ventura Missionary Church. That same year they adopted their son John Phillip.

In 1962 they adopted Beth Ann and in 1964 they moved to Phoenix, AZ, where he pastored the Northwest Missionary Church. From 1969-1973 John was pastor of Calvary Missionary Church (now known as Westlake Community Church) in Thousand Oaks.

From 1978-1982 John was the Administrative Pastor at Ventura Missionary Church under the Reverend Dr. Leonard DeWitt. From 1982-1986, John was the Administrative Director of the Union Rescue Mission, Los Angeles, CA.

John received a call to rejoin the Overseas Fellowship at Robinzonia, PA, which they did from 1988-1990. They returned in 1990 to Ventura Missionary Church where John was pastor of the seniors until his retirement in 2002.

John will be missed for his kind and generous giving, even when he didn’t have the means to give. He wanted to help others in need. John also was totally involved in trying to win others to the Lord. He would stop people he saw and ask them if they knew Jesus.

John was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Evelyn; his daughter, Beth Ann; and his brothers, Carl, Ralph, and Gene. He is survived by his son, John Philip; grandsons, Jonathan, and Spencer; brother, David; sister, Eleanor Wenger, sisters in law, Betsy Cherrie, and Ilene Cherrie; longtime friend, Lola Higby, “adopted daughter,” Cindy Lanza; and many nephews and nieces.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 21, 2016, 11:00 A.M., at the Ventura Missionary Church, 500 High Point Drive, Ventura, CA.

Arrangements under the direction of Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura, CA.