STERLING - John Robert Sailors, 89, of Sterling, died Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011, in Sterling.
John was born May 19, 1922, in Chicago, the son of John Dennis and Augusta (Kramer) Sailors.
He graduated from Tilden High School, Chicago, in 1940, and served in the Army Air force during World War II. After the war, he attended Chicago Music College. John was married to Geraldine "Gerry" Garthwaite on June 12, 1948, in Bloomington, Wis.
John transferred to Northwestern University, Evanston, where he graduated with his Bachelor of Science in music education and a master's degree in music in 1950. He taught music and Industrial arts in St. Anne, then taught metal shop from 1958 to 1977 at Rock Falls High School. One could often hear John greeting students or former students with, "Hi neighbor!" and the same greeting was enthusiastically returned. John worked at National Manufacturing Co., Sterling, as a tool and die maker before retiring in 1986.
During retirement, John enjoyed many things, including spending time with his family, woodworking, composing, arranging music, playing seven different instruments, stamp collecting and socializing. He was a member of Faith Baptist Church, Sterling, where he ministered as choir director for about 19 years. He continued to be active in music until the months before his death.
Surviving are his wife, Gerry of Sterling; three daughters, Diane (Doug) Newton of Peoria, Carol (Steve) Dobson of Owatonna, Minn., and Janet (Peter) Helland of Greenwood, Ind.; seven grandchildren, Deanna (Clint) Bachmann, Denise (Nathan) Leuthold, Brian (Jennie) Dobson, Scott (Nicole)Dobson, Kristina (Nathan) Birkholz, Susan (Jordan) Heijermans and Philip (Alissa) Helland; and 14 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and one grandchild.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at McDonald Funeral Home, Rock Falls. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Faith Baptist Church, with pastor Brian Bice officiating. Full military honors will be conducted after the service at the Church. Burial will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Rock Island National Cemetery.
In Lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established.
Taken from:
The Dixon Telegraph
Dixon, Lee Co., IL.
Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011
Page A4 - Col. 5-6
John was born May 19, 1922, in Chicago, the son of John Dennis and Augusta (Kramer) Sailors.
He graduated from Tilden High School, Chicago, in 1940, and served in the Army Air force during World War II. After the war, he attended Chicago Music College. John was married to Geraldine "Gerry" Garthwaite on June 12, 1948, in Bloomington, Wis.
John transferred to Northwestern University, Evanston, where he graduated with his Bachelor of Science in music education and a master's degree in music in 1950. He taught music and Industrial arts in St. Anne, then taught metal shop from 1958 to 1977 at Rock Falls High School. One could often hear John greeting students or former students with, "Hi neighbor!" and the same greeting was enthusiastically returned. John worked at National Manufacturing Co., Sterling, as a tool and die maker before retiring in 1986.
During retirement, John enjoyed many things, including spending time with his family, woodworking, composing, arranging music, playing seven different instruments, stamp collecting and socializing. He was a member of Faith Baptist Church, Sterling, where he ministered as choir director for about 19 years. He continued to be active in music until the months before his death.
Surviving are his wife, Gerry of Sterling; three daughters, Diane (Doug) Newton of Peoria, Carol (Steve) Dobson of Owatonna, Minn., and Janet (Peter) Helland of Greenwood, Ind.; seven grandchildren, Deanna (Clint) Bachmann, Denise (Nathan) Leuthold, Brian (Jennie) Dobson, Scott (Nicole)Dobson, Kristina (Nathan) Birkholz, Susan (Jordan) Heijermans and Philip (Alissa) Helland; and 14 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and one grandchild.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at McDonald Funeral Home, Rock Falls. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Faith Baptist Church, with pastor Brian Bice officiating. Full military honors will be conducted after the service at the Church. Burial will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Rock Island National Cemetery.
In Lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established.
Taken from:
The Dixon Telegraph
Dixon, Lee Co., IL.
Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011
Page A4 - Col. 5-6
STERLING - John Robert Sailors, 89, of Sterling, died Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011, in Sterling.
John was born May 19, 1922, in Chicago, the son of John Dennis and Augusta (Kramer) Sailors.
He graduated from Tilden High School, Chicago, in 1940, and served in the Army Air force during World War II. After the war, he attended Chicago Music College. John was married to Geraldine "Gerry" Garthwaite on June 12, 1948, in Bloomington, Wis.
John transferred to Northwestern University, Evanston, where he graduated with his Bachelor of Science in music education and a master's degree in music in 1950. He taught music and Industrial arts in St. Anne, then taught metal shop from 1958 to 1977 at Rock Falls High School. One could often hear John greeting students or former students with, "Hi neighbor!" and the same greeting was enthusiastically returned. John worked at National Manufacturing Co., Sterling, as a tool and die maker before retiring in 1986.
During retirement, John enjoyed many things, including spending time with his family, woodworking, composing, arranging music, playing seven different instruments, stamp collecting and socializing. He was a member of Faith Baptist Church, Sterling, where he ministered as choir director for about 19 years. He continued to be active in music until the months before his death.
Surviving are his wife, Gerry of Sterling; three daughters, Diane (Doug) Newton of Peoria, Carol (Steve) Dobson of Owatonna, Minn., and Janet (Peter) Helland of Greenwood, Ind.; seven grandchildren, Deanna (Clint) Bachmann, Denise (Nathan) Leuthold, Brian (Jennie) Dobson, Scott (Nicole)Dobson, Kristina (Nathan) Birkholz, Susan (Jordan) Heijermans and Philip (Alissa) Helland; and 14 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and one grandchild.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at McDonald Funeral Home, Rock Falls. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Faith Baptist Church, with pastor Brian Bice officiating. Full military honors will be conducted after the service at the Church. Burial will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Rock Island National Cemetery.
In Lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established.
Taken from:
The Dixon Telegraph
Dixon, Lee Co., IL.
Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011
Page A4 - Col. 5-6
John was born May 19, 1922, in Chicago, the son of John Dennis and Augusta (Kramer) Sailors.
He graduated from Tilden High School, Chicago, in 1940, and served in the Army Air force during World War II. After the war, he attended Chicago Music College. John was married to Geraldine "Gerry" Garthwaite on June 12, 1948, in Bloomington, Wis.
John transferred to Northwestern University, Evanston, where he graduated with his Bachelor of Science in music education and a master's degree in music in 1950. He taught music and Industrial arts in St. Anne, then taught metal shop from 1958 to 1977 at Rock Falls High School. One could often hear John greeting students or former students with, "Hi neighbor!" and the same greeting was enthusiastically returned. John worked at National Manufacturing Co., Sterling, as a tool and die maker before retiring in 1986.
During retirement, John enjoyed many things, including spending time with his family, woodworking, composing, arranging music, playing seven different instruments, stamp collecting and socializing. He was a member of Faith Baptist Church, Sterling, where he ministered as choir director for about 19 years. He continued to be active in music until the months before his death.
Surviving are his wife, Gerry of Sterling; three daughters, Diane (Doug) Newton of Peoria, Carol (Steve) Dobson of Owatonna, Minn., and Janet (Peter) Helland of Greenwood, Ind.; seven grandchildren, Deanna (Clint) Bachmann, Denise (Nathan) Leuthold, Brian (Jennie) Dobson, Scott (Nicole)Dobson, Kristina (Nathan) Birkholz, Susan (Jordan) Heijermans and Philip (Alissa) Helland; and 14 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and one grandchild.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at McDonald Funeral Home, Rock Falls. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Faith Baptist Church, with pastor Brian Bice officiating. Full military honors will be conducted after the service at the Church. Burial will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Rock Island National Cemetery.
In Lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established.
Taken from:
The Dixon Telegraph
Dixon, Lee Co., IL.
Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011
Page A4 - Col. 5-6
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