John W. Morris, 88

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John William Morris, 88, of Benld, died Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, with family by his side.

Visitation will be held Saturday, Aug. 21, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Kravanya Funeral Home in Gillespie. Funeral services will follow at 12 p.m. at the funeral home. The family requests that masks be worn if not vaccinated.

Mr. Morris was born Nov. 4, 1932, to Thomas and Lillie (Chapman) Morris in DeWitt County. He married Marleen Pomatto on April 22, 1956, at the United Methodist Church in Gillespie, and together they celebrated 65 years of marriage on April 22.

From 1951 to 1953, he was a sergeant in the army during the Korean War. For 46 years, he worked for the phone company and served on the Benld Fire Department for 36 years. He was a member of the Staunton VFW and a former member of the Benld Italian American Club. He went on the Honor Flight on April 11, 2017, accompanied by his daughter, Brenda.

He enjoyed trips to Branson with the 630th Engineers Army Buddies. He loved fishing, dancing, spending time with his family and friends, but most of all, he loved doing things for others. He never knew a stranger.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by four children, Gary (Mary Ann) Morris of Alton, Carolyn (Bill) Rice of Bunker Hill, Brenda (Steve) Subick of Mt. Olive and Keith (Amanda) Morris of Edwardsville; 13 grandchildren, Debra (Bryon) Downing and Steven Jr. (Elizabeth) Subick, both of Troy, Mitchel (Aracely) Morris of Chicago, Nicholas (Sjanna) Subick of Cape Coral, FL, David Morris of Alton, Robert Rice of Mt. Olive, Danielle Morris of Nokomis, Kevin (Kristen) Morris of House Springs, MO, Sarah (Brian) O’Connor of Galesburg, Ryan (Nicole) Subick of Loveland, CO, Brian Morris of Godfrey, Emily (Tyler) Shewmake of Alton and Troy Morris of China; 17 great-grandchildren, with two more on the way; two brothers; two sisters; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Susan Rice of Bunker Hill; in-laws, Martin and Mary Pomatto of Wilsonville; two brothers; and five sisters.

Memorials may be made to the Gillespie-Benld Area Ambulance Service, HSHS Hospice or the Honors Flight.

Online condolences may be left at www.kravanyafuneral.com.