John W. DeWerff, 70

Posted

John Wayne “Duke” DeWerff, 70, of Nokomis, died Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021 at 12:55 p.m.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, Nov. 10, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in rural Nokomis from 5 to 7 p.m., and Thursday morning, Nov. 11m from 9 to 10:30 a.m.. Funeral services will be held Thursday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. at the church. Stiehl-Dawson Funeral Home is in  charge of arrangements.

Mr. DeWerff was born December 6, 1950, in Pana, the son of Luther and Inez (Johnson) DeWerff. He married Carolyn Aherin on July 7, 1972 in Farmersville.

Mr. DeWerff was a graduate of Nokomis High School and attended Illinois State University where he was a pitcher on the baseball team. He subsequently coached baseball for many years. He was a farmer, and served on many community boards and as an elder at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. He was known for his toughnesss, continuing to do his farm work and roofing for years while suffering from multiple sclerosis.

He is survived by his mother; his wife; children Angie (husband David) Wolfe of Effingham, Jodi (husband Jeff) Kinkelaar of Effingham, Dan (wife Lisa) DeWerff of Nokomis, and Gregory (wife Lauren) DeWerff of Watseka; sister Cheryl (husband Johnie) West of Morrisonville; brother Ron (wife Dawn) DeWerff of Nokomis; grandchildren Grant, Landon, Parker, Garrett, and Averie Wolfe, Mia, Claire, and Cal Kinkelaar, Ryder, Sutter, and Nash DeWerff.

Mr. DeWerff was preceded in death by his father; mother and father-in-law Roy and Nelda Aherin;  and brother-in-law Nyle Schmedeke.

Memorials are suggested to the MS Foundation, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, and the Nokomis Athletic Fund.