John S. Trites Sr.

John S. Trites Sr., 87, of Rockford, Illinois, passed away on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. John was born on November 27, 1938, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, to Stephen and Georgia (Swenson) Trites. Throughout his life, he found interest in many career paths, including owning his own HVAC company, and later becoming a building maintenance supervisor at Mattison Machine Works in Rockford. In retirement, he found a new interest in becoming a realtor. John had a special and natural talent in woodworking and woodturning. His entire basement consisted of woodworking tools and many projects. He even made cradles for his children when they started their own families. When the weather was nice, he also enjoyed fishing. Above all else, John was a man of his faith and was a member of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Rockford.

John is survived by his wife, Ginny Trites; children, Joanne (Brion) Nesmith, Janice (Jeffrey) Hill, John (Judi) Trites Jr., Kevin (Shawna) Burns, and John (Jessica) Livingstone; grandchildren, Jennifer, BreAnna, Michael, Melissa, Jacqueline, Makayela, Trevor, Serenity, and Katherine; 8 great-grandchildren; siblings, Diane Vance, Helen Brugger, and David Benedict; numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by wives, Vonda “Bonnie” and Phyllis; grandson, Joshua Hill; parents, Stephen (Betty) Trites and Georgia (Joseph) Benedict.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association in John's honor.