John David McPhail

Born November 15, 1933 in Herrin to Otto and Gertrude (Hawkins) McPhail, he married Delilah Marianne Will on April 4, 1955 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Herrin. She survives.

Also surviving are one daughter, Karen Jacobs McPhail of Marquette Heights; three sons, David McPhail of Marquette Heights, Mark McPhail of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Tim (Mindy) McPhail of Bartonville; four grandchildren, Phillip Jenks of Marquette Heights, Bridget Jacobs of Creve Coeur, Ryan McPhail of Hamilton, Ohio, and Joshua McPhail; four great-grandsons, Bryson, Madden, Rylan, and Shiloh John; and one sister, Helen Hopper of Dallas, Texas.

His parents and two brothers, Robert McPhail and James McPhail, preceded him in death.

He was a United States Army veteran of the Korean War.

John worked at Caterpillar, Inc. for 40 years, retiring in 1992 as a maintenance foreman at Building KK in East Peoria.

He was a member of Sacre Coeur Catholic Church in Creve Coeur, Creve Coeur Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, Bartonville American Legion Post, and Marquette Heights American Legion Post. He also was a member and past president of the Travelers Protection Association.

John was a life-long St. Louis Cardinals fan. He also was a fan of the Chicago Bears and NASCAR especially Jeff Gordon. He enjoyed being in the outdoors, Country music, woodworking, collecting hats, hunting, and fishing, especially in Chetek, Wisconsin. He enjoyed feeding the squirrels, deer, and the chipmunks, even “Chipy”.

John will be remembered for his strong work ethic, his loyalty to anything he did, his dry sense of humor and his sharp wit. He was a man of few words, but his words were very meaningful. He was a giving and protective person.

His visitation will be from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, December 10, 2022 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin, where a funeral will follow at 2:30 p.m. Father Michael Andrejek will officiate. Military rites will be accorded by the United States Army and the Tazewell Military Rites Team.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Marquette Heights Men’s Club.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com