John J. Oakley

1935 - 2012

John Oakley

John J. Oakley, 76, of Red Bud, Ill., born on Nov. 8, 1935, in St. Louis, Mo., passed away at 2:42 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at his residence with his family present.

Mr. Oakley had been a carpenter superintendent for the City of St. Louis at the city hospital and at the water division for 25 years. He also worked for various contractors in St. Louis and Southern Illinois. He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Ruma, Ill., Masonic Lodge No. 427 in Red Bud, Ill., American Legion Post No. 622 in Prairie du Rocher, Ill.; and the Carpenter Union in St. Louis, Mo. He had also served on the board of director for Gilbert Cemetery in Ames, Ill. He served his county in the US Army during the Korean Conflict. He was an avid outdoorsman, a sharpshooter, a strong supporter of the NRA and a tremendous athlete in basketball and boxing.

John was preceded in death by his wife, Antoinette "Toni" Oakley, whom he married on Jan. 28, 1998, in Waterloo, Ill., and who died on Aug. 1, 2004; father, Charles W. Unruh; parents, Robert C. and Elizabeth, nee Anmau, Oakley Sr.; and a step-son, Stephen Schmaltz.

Surviving are his two children, Tanya (Roy) Schoenbeck of Bourbon, Mo., and Thomas (Tami) Oakley of Red Bud, Ill.; four step children, William Schmaltz of St. Louis, Mo., Antoinette (John) Berhorst of St. Louis, Mo., Kathleen (Igor) Vlahovic of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Michael Schmaltz of St. Louis, Mo.; two brothers, Robert (Gayle) Oakley of Washington, N.J., and James (Martha) Oakley of Evansville, Ill.; eight grandchildren, Angela, Nathan, Wade, Maria, Cassie, Kathleen, Jenna and Antoinette; seven great-grandchildren, Evan, Owen, Aiden, Ruby, Ben, Patrick and James; his previous wife, Reta, nee Palmer Boyle of Sullivan, Mo.; and dear friend, Fay Hartmann of Red Bud, Ill.; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association. To view this obituary and sign the register book, visit www.wpfh.net

Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 29, 2012, and from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 30, 2012, at Welge-Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud, Ill. An American Legion service will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Funeral: Mass will be offered at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 30, 2012, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Ruma, Ill., with Father Clyde Grogan officiating. Interment in Gilbert Cemetery in Ames, Ill.

WELGE-PECHACEK FUNERAL HOME, Red Bud, Ill.