James Richard "Jim" Sherrick

James (Jim) Richard Sherrick, 83, of Watson, IL, passed away on November 3, 2025, at Willowbrook Memory Care facility in Effingham, IL.

Jim was born to Bill & Wilma (Nichols) Sherrick on October 29, 1942. Jim graduated from Effingham High School in 1960. After high school, he attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where he had the privilage of interning in Idaho for the National Forrest Service. Jim later graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Forestry. He started his career at Main Brothers Box & Lumber Company in Karnak, IL, marking timber to be cut for lumber. He went on to work at Illinois Department of Transportation in Effingham, where he spent 33 years as a landscape architect.

While at EHS, he met and married the love of his life, Sally Metzelaars. They attended college together and were married on December 21, 1963. Jim and Sally have two daughters, Kelly Anderson and Becky Quandt.

Jim was an avid outdoorsman and lover of nature. He enjoyed hunting, fishing with his buddies, camping with his family and friends, and canoeing down multiple rivers through Tennessee, Missouri, and the highlight, the Rio Grande. He took his family across the United States sharing his passion for all the amazing things in nature. He was a member of F.A.C.E. (Fine Arts County of Effingham) and performed in many productions in the 80's. In his later years, he loved to support his grandchildren by traveling to ballgames, concerts, musicals and anything else they were a part of. Nothing was more important to Jim than his family and being outdoors.

Jim leaves behind his loving wife of 62 years, Sally; his daughters, Kelly (husband, John Anderson) and Becky (Jim Martin); his grandchildren, Hannah, (husband, Ryan Hoekstra), Elizabeth, (husband, Heith Ingram), Alec (wife, Skyler Quandt), Jason, (wife, Caitlyn Martin); his great-grandchildren, Nora and Noel Hoekstra, Henry Ingram, Lena Quandt, Blayke and Brooks Martin, and one more great grandson coming soon; his siblings, Nancy Brosseau, and Jeanie, (husband Mike Harshbarger); his brother-in-law, John Metzelaars as well as many other cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, William (Bill) and Wilma Sherrick; father and mother-in-law, Joe and Marge Metzelaars; brother-in-law, Dave Brosseau; sister-in-law, Diane Metzelaars; and nephew, Jeff Brosseau.

The Sherrick family would like to extend their thanks and appreciation to the staff at Willowbrook Memory Care and HSHS Hospice for their wonderful care as well as Johnson Funeral Home for handling arrangements during this time.

Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at Mason Christian Church in Mason, IL. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 17, 2025 at the church as well as from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. prior to the service at the church on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. Services are in the care of Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham, IL.

Memorials can be made to Shawnee Trail Conservancy or Mason Christian Church Mission Fund. Online condolences may be shared at www.johnsonandsonsfh.com.