MANITO ~ John Jesse Harmon, 85, of 7750 Townline Road passed away from complications following heart surgery at 11:03 a.m. Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, with his family at his bedside.
Born July 2, 1923 in Bradfordsville, Kentucky to James and Arbela (Benningfield) Harmon, he married Ruth June Gray on October 11, 1946 in Pekin.
Surviving are his wife; one son, Johnny (Sheila) Harmon of Manito; one daughter, Patricia (David) Pfeiffer of Chiefland, Florida; and four grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his step-father; one daughter, Carol Harmon; one sister and three brothers.
John worked for American Distilling Company in Pekin for 35 years, retiring as a filter operator in 1980. He then followed his passion for building and founded Harmon Home Improvement which specialized in roofing, siding and windows. His last construction job was to single handedly build a fishing cabin at Little Grassy Lake in Carbondale when he was 71 years old.
A World War II veteran, he served as an aircraft mechanic in the United States Army Air Force from 1943 to 1946.
An Avid outdoorsman, John was happiest when hunting, fishing, gardening, or tending to his bee hives. He enjoyed traveling with his wife to California, Florida, Hawaii, and Germany.
John was a founding member of the Lake Arlann Homeowners Association and a founding trustee of the Schaeferville Fire Department. He had served as business agent for Local # 4 of the AFL-CIO and was a life member of the William Schaefer American Legion Post # 44 in Pekin.
His funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 20, 2009 at the Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Pekin Chapel. The Rev. Bradley J. Vander Waal will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 19, 2009 at the funeral home. Burial will be in Spring Lake Cemetery in rural Manito.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
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