John Feterl

CHARLESTON - John H. Feterl, age 72 of rural Charleston passed away on Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at his home. Visitation for family and friends will be held Friday (December 30) from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Adams Funeral Chapel in Charleston. Services honoring and celebrating his life will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday at Wesley United Methodist Church, 2206 Fourth Street in Charleston, with Reverend Walter Carlson officiating. Interment, with military flag folding and presentation, will follow in Roselawn Cemetery, Charleston. In lieu of flowers, John's family requests that memorial gifts in his honor be made to the Charleston Lions Club or to the Colorado Trail (coloradotrail.org). 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 January 29, 1939 in Huron, South Dakota, the son of John Nicholas and Elsie (Weber) Feterl. He married Judith Ann Bingman on July 13, 1968 in Staunton, Illinois. He is survived by his loving wife Judy of rural Charleston; two daughters, Pamela Penn and her husband Brent of Lucasville, Ohio and Cindy Corbin of Jasper, Minnesota; three grandchildren, Cody Penn and Aaren Penn of Lucasville and Jericha Feller of Dell Rapids, South Dakota; two sisters, Marie Weber of Bridgewater, South Dakota and Jean Feterl of Howell, Michigan; two godchildren, Doug Barr of Wisconsin and Ben Barr of Maryland; one sister-in-law, Linda Bingman of Colorado; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Leonard "Butch" Feterl and Bernard "Bernie" Feterl; and, two sisters, Clara Mitchell and Louise Anderson. John earned his Bachelors Degree in 1970 and his Masters Degree in 1972, both from Eastern Illinois University. John retired as a respected teacher in 1994 from the Charleston School District, having taught various trades including electronics at Charleston High School for twenty-two years. One of his last teaching projects involved assembling a KITFOX airplane with his students. On occasion, he instructed at E.I.U. John was a proud military veteran having served with the United States Army during the late 1950's. A long-time member of the Charleston Lions Club, he was honored earlier this year by Lions International as a Melvin Jones Fellow a prestigious Lions Club award given for dedicated humanitarian services. John also held numerous offices throughout his many years of loyalty and dedication to the Lions and also was recognized on several other occasions including the Lions of Illinois Extension Award. John was a man of faith and family. He was a supportive, loving and loved husband, father, grandfather and brother. He enjoyed golfing, hiking, backpacking, bicycling, panning for gold, tilling gardens & drinking coffee with his many friends in both Illinois and Colorado. Often he could be found lending someone a helping hand, whether it be through the Lions Club or John's genuine concern for others. His kindness, compassion and life of service to others will be richly remembered and the Charleston community is a better place because John was our neighbor. John's memorial website is available at www.adamsfuneralchapel.com where condolences may be sent to the family by clicking on obituaries.