John L. Daum

CHARLESTON, IL – John L. Daum, age 83 and long-time vital member of the Charleston community, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 22, 2013.  Visitation for family and friends will be held Friday, June 28, 2013 from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church, 2206 4th Street in Charleston.  Services honoring and celebrating his life will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 29, 2013 at Wesley United Methodist Church with Reverend Walter Carlson officiating.  Interment will follow at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday in the Elmwood Cemetery, Centralia, Illinois.  It is requested that in lieu of flowers thoughtful donations in his honor be made to Boy Scouts of America Troop 141, the Charleston Community Band or to Wesley United Methodist Church.  Gifts may be left on the memorial table at the visitation or service, or mailed to Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Drive, Charleston, IL 61920. 

John was born on July 3, 1929 in Centralia, a son of the late John and Miriam (Pair) Daum.   He married the love of his life, Emma Kent, on October 17, 1954 in Centralia, and together they have shared 58 years of marriage and the joys of every-day life.  In addition to Emma, he is survived by four children, John T. Daum and wife Mindy of Decatur, Illinois; Susan Bartling and husband Tom of Las Vegas, Nevada; Nancy Durham and husband Jim of San Antonio, Texas and Brian Daum of Arizona; five grandchildren, Jenna Daum, Jared Daum, Emmy Bartling, Geoff Durham and Mitch Durham; a sister, LaVera Warzak and husband Frank of Chicago; two brothers, Glen Daum of New York City and Michael Peerce of Centralia; several nieces and nephews and their families including Barry Warzak and wife Anna and Jean Kyle and husband Ron; and special friends, Todd and Joyce Cassell who have been present on a daily basis to lend their caring support and assistance. 

John grew up in Centralia and was a graduate of Centralia High School.  He furthered his education at Southern Illinois University where he achieved both his Bachelors and Masters Degrees.  His teaching career began in the Southern Illinois town of Vienna and was later band director for the Sikeston, Missouri school district.  In 1962 the Daum family made Charleston their home and John became a significant member of the community from that day forward.  For the next 26 years "Mr. Daum" became a mentor and an inspiration to hundreds of students in the Charleston School District as their band director.  He had a way of bringing out the best in his students, igniting their passion for music and creating for them opportunities and experiences that would be life changing.  Many of his former students continue to play for the Charleston Community Summer Band of which he was the founding director – a band which has been bringing musical enjoyment to the community for more than 30 years.  The band now performs in the Daum Amphitheater located in Kiwanis Park - dedicated in his honor on July of 2012.   His devotion and dedication to the scouting program has been paramount and he has been instrumental in helping to shape and mold the lives of hundreds of young men.  He received a 50 year Service Award from the Boy Scouts of America and the Silver Beaver Award, and was in leadership for sixty years of local Boy Scout Troops 41 and 141 and a mentor to hundreds of Eagle Scouts.  A memorial brick in his honor has been laid at the Boy Scout Camp near Pana, Illinois. 

John was a long-time member of the Wesley United Methodist Church in Charleston and was honored with the Methodist Award which was given by the church for his contribution to the scouting program.  He was also a 22 year member of the Charleston Playground and Recreation Board.  Through the years he has received numerous awards and honors at both the state and local levels, which include the Jefferson Award for his outstanding public service; the band room at the Charleston Middle School which bears his name; the Boy Scout Jamboree Transportation Award, the Community Family of the Year in 2002, and the Charleston Citizen of the Year for 2002-2003 - to name a select few. 

John possessed a good sense of humor and who can forget the Volkswagen Beetle which was his signature mode of transportation.  He loved to do woodworking in his spare time, but first and foremost he was committed to caring for his family and his extended family which was the Charleston community.  He adored Emma who was always right there with him lending her unending support and assistance.  He was proud of his children who embodied the principles of giving and caring for others that he and Emma imparted to them.  He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and visiting their homes.  John gave of his time and his talents unselfishly and inspired others to follow suit.  He recognized the goodness in others and established relationships with those qualities as the foundation.  He will be truly missed but the legacy left by John Daum is endless as it continues on through the lives of his family, his colleagues, his students and his friends.