John Howard Ross, age 92

of Effingham, IL passed away at 1:25 PM - Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at Willowbrook in Effingham, IL surrounded by the love of his daughters.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM – Saturday, May 3, 2014 at the First Baptist Church in Newton, IL with Rev. Stephen Willis officiating.
Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery with

full military rites by the Jasper Post #20 American Legion.

Visitation will be held from 9:30 AM until the time of the service at the church.

In loving memory of John, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church.

The obituary can be viewed and condolences left at www.meyerfh.com.

John Howard Ross was born on October 2, 1921 in Newton, IL the son of Oscar and Annabell (Scott) Ross.

He was a graduate of Newton Community High School.

He married Lillian Nadean McKinney on June 19, 1942 and she preceded him in death on September 26, 2005.

John proudly served his country in the United States Army during World War II.

John worked as a rural mail carrier and was a home builder.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Newton, IL.

He was a member of the Rural Mail Carriers Association and the Jasper Post #20 American Legion.

John excelled in sports during his high school years lettering in all 4 sports. He remained a sports enthusiast throughout his life and was an avid St. Louis Cardinals Fan. John loved the game of golf, he joined the Jasper County Country Club the year after it was founded and played the course for many years.

John is survived by-

3 Daughters – Cathy (Lee) Kaufmann of Effingham, Illinois

Jody (Nick) Bierman of Corning, New York

Mary Ann (Michael) Gunn of Santa Rosa, California

7 Grandchildren – Patrick Gunn, Brian Gunn, Jason Bierman, Aimee (Bierman) Greene, Scott Kaufmann,

Kate (Kaufmann) Marker and Brad Kaufmann.

12 Great Grandchildren – Ellen, Emily, Dylan, Gavin, Abby, Molly, Nicholas, Andrew, Jack, Lilly,

Myla and a great granddaughter, soon to be born

Sister – Dorothy Harmon of West Covina, California

John was preceded in death by his parents Oscar and Annabell, wife Nadean and sister Emma Jane Gruenewald.