John L. Melvin, age 81, of Monmouth, Illinois, passed away at 7:25 AM on Friday, February 17, 2023 at the Monmouth Nursing Home in Monmouth, Illinois. He was born November 8, 1941 in Monmouth, Illinois, the son of Lowell Charter and Bonnie Veroqua (Green) Melvin. John attended schools in Monmouth and was a graduate of Monmouth High School. John proudly served in the United States Air Force as a weather observer. On May 14, 1966, he married Janet Lea Henry at the Belmont Church in Bald Bluff and she preceded him in death on April 12, 2016.
After the service, John worked at the Gambles Warehouse in Monmouth where he first met Janet. He later worked at the Trading Post north of Monmouth, worked in construction where he built Harvestore’s, Pizza Hut’s, and Casey’s General Stores. He also worked for Todd Construction and was an EMT with United Ambulance Service in Monmouth. John enjoyed fishing, rides in the country, history, and HO model trains. He will always be remembered with a smoking pipe and cold beer in his hand.
John is survived by three daughters, Angela D. Melvin of Cameron, IL, Jennifer (Kris) Kautz of Denver, CO, and Jonna Melvin of Denver, CO, two sons, Doug Melvin of Denver, CO and David W. Melvin of Cameron, IL, his grandchildren, Alek Buckert, Evelyn Kautz, and Lily Kautz, and one great-granddaughter, Aria Buckert. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. John is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Janet, one sister, Barbara Howe-Gardner, and one brother, Jim Melvin.
A funeral service for John Melvin is scheduled for 10:30 AM on Saturday, February 25, 2023 at Turnbull Funeral Home in Monmouth, Illinois. John’s family will receive friends from 9:30-10:30 AM prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment with military honors will be at Monmouth Cemetery.
