John W. Edmund Jr.

1929 - 2013

ALPHA - John W. Edmund Jr., 83, prominent area pork producer and nationally recognized farmer, of Alpha, died Friday, April 12, 2013, on the family farm surrounded by his family and friends. A celebration of life will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 16, 2013, at Harvest Bible Chapel in Woodhull. Burial will be in the Andover Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Monday, April 15, 2013, at Peterson-Wallin-Knox Funeral Home in Woodhull. Memorials may be left to the AlWood Academic Foundation, Harvest Bible Chapel or Tri-County Ambulance. Online condolences can be made at www.petersonwallinknox.com.
He was born Dec. 30, 1929, in Galesburg, to John Sr. and Inez Johnson Edmund. He attended Middle District School in rural Cambridge. He married Susan Peterson on Sept. 25, 1954, in Coldbrook Christian Church in Cameron.
John was a proud U.S. Marine, serving during the Korean Conflict as a drill sergeant.
He was a very successful third-generation farmer on the land owned by his family founded in the 1860s. He was the largest pork producer in the state of Illinois in the 1970s, having won many national and state awards throughout his career.
John attended Harvest Bible Chapel and was a former member of Grace Lutheran Church in Ophiem. He was a former member of the AlWood School Board, serving two terms as president. He was a member of the Henry County Pork and Livestock Producers, Henry County Farm Bureau, Miles Sturgeon Legion Post 0546, Henry County Health Insurance Board and a founding board member of the Woodhull State Bank.
He enjoyed reading, was a world traveler and enjoyed traveling in his motor home with Susie. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren. He was an avid Cubs fan.
Survivors include his wife, Susan; five daughters, Debi (Pete) Edmund-Ellertsen of Springfield, Connie (Steve) Lemon of Bourbonnais, Cindy (Ed) Summers of Alpha, Marian (Phil) Edmund-Paulson and Marilyn (Jeff) DeMay, both of Geneseo; 12 grandchildren, Christopher, Kara, Nichole, Eric, Dan, Emily, Amanda, Angie, Lexie, Matt, Elizabeth, Payton; seven great-grandchildren, Annabel, Addison, Jonah, Lulu, Edwin John, Andrew and Clara; and several nieces and nephews.
His parents; one daughter, Jennifer; one grandson; one great-grandchild, Jacob; and seven brothers preceded him in death.