John Keith Staats, age 86, died Sunday, October 14, 2012 at Memorial Medical Center. He was born in Philadelphia, PA on September 4, 1926 and married Elsie Imogene Solomon on December 24, 1955. Surviving are his children Keith Staats (Alice Galloway) of Springfield, Kathie Bryant, Chatham, Kevin Staats (Karen Twidwell) Tulsa Oklahoma, Kirk Staats (Rebecca Stanley) Sherman, Illinois, Kelly Staats (Marilyn Hibalo) Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and Kerry Staats (Charlene Novak) Lexington Park, Maryland, sister Lillian Crossman, and brother Don Staats, both of LaSalle-Peru, Illinois. He is also survived by all of his grandchildren, Kelly Sgro (Springfield), John, Valerie, Alyssa, Kyle and Sheridan Staats (Tulsa, OK), Anna and Emme Staats (Lexington Park, MD) Jay, Jarlyn, Jess and James Staats (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic), Katie Beth Bryant (Keller, TX), Kevin Bryant (Downers Grove, IL), Kara Bryant (St. Louis, MO), Steve Bryant (Chatham), Kelci Bryant (Minneapolis), Jake, Nathan, and Mitch Staats (Sherman) and Joseph Staats (Champaign). There are also nine great-grandchildren.
Prior to graduating from Illinois State Normal University Mr. Staats played high school baseball and football in Gloucester, NJ, and was a pitcher at Joliet Junior College as well as ISNU. He pitched a couple of no hitters during his career.
He coached baseball at Jefferson Junior High School prior to his 21 years at Springfield High School (1962-83). John had an overall won loss record of 297 and 190. His teams won Eight Big 12, Seven District, Eight City, Six Regional Championships and one Sectional Championship. The year the team won Sectionals they made it through to the Quarterfinals in Peoria at State. He was the first SHS coach to take the school to state in baseball. He was the first Springfield Coach to win the BIG 12 in baseball. In 1975 he was voted the Big 12 Coach of the year. He was inducted into the Illinois Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1983 and in the same year was honored by the American Baseball Coaches Association. Out of his twenty-one seasons at SHS seventeen were winning!
After retiring he and his wife bicycled all over the United States, crossing Oklahoma, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota, and long rides in Colorado. They spent winters in San Diego, living on Mission Bay where they could step off of their porch and onto the bike path!
Elliott Avenue Baptist, where Mr. Staats was a long time member, will host his memorial service at 11 am, Friday, October 19. Visitation will be held 10:30 – 11 am Friday preceding the service at the church.
Bisch Funeral Homes is in charge of arrangements.
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