John F. Christian

KEWANEE – John F. Christian, 91, a resident of Hope Creek Care Center in East Moline, formerly of Kewanee, died at 4:01 p.m., Tuesday, June 5, 2018 at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf, IA.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, June 9 at Saint John Paul II Parish in Kewanee. Celebrant will be Fr. Johndamaseni Zilimu. Visitation will be held from 9:00-9:45 a.m., Saturday at Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery where military rites will be accorded by the Kewanee Veterans Council. Memorials may be directed to the Activities Department at Hope Creek Care Center.                                         

He was born January 11, 1927 in Annawan, the son of Edward and Helen (DeClercq) Christian. He married Martha H. Russelburg on July 12, 1948 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tiskilwa and she preceded him in death on May 28, 2014. Survivors include four children; Steve (Sharon) Christian of Geneseo, Cheryl Kerr of Kewanee, Greg (Laurie) Christian of East Moline and Roxanne (Wayne) Nash of Rock Island, a step-brother, Ronald (Marilyn) Jensen of Annawan, eight grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. He was also preceded in death by his parents, his step-mother, Miriam Christian, a son-in-law, Dick Kerr and a great grandson, Steven L. Christian.

John was raised and had lived in Mineral until moving to Kewanee in 1987. He graduated from Mineral High School in 1944 and from Barber College in Peoria. He served his country in U.S. Navy during WWII from 1944-45 on the USS Bryant stationed in Treasure Island, CA. In his early years he had owned and operated John’s Barber Shop in Sheffield and then later worked for LTV Steel in Hennepin. He was a member of Saint John Paul II Parish and had been a member of the former St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Kewanee. He was also a 73-year member of Post 1031 Clark-Carrington American Legion in Mineral and the United Steel Workers Union. He was an inductee of the Mineral Leopards Basketball Hall of Fame. He enjoyed woodworking, gardening, telling jokes and especially spending time with his Russelburg family and his children and grandchildren. The fondest memories of his grandchildren were his storytelling and the unforgettable entertainment he provided them with.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Hope Creek Care Center for the TLC and comfort they have provided for the past 4 years.

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