John H. Carrillo

1934 - 2025

John H. Carrillo
Born: December 20, 1934 in Malakoff, TX
Died: August 8, 2025 in Sterling, IL
STERLING – John H. Carrillo, age 90, died Friday, August 8, 2025 at CGH Medical Center.
John was born on December 20, 1934 in Malakoff, TX, the son of Rodolfo and Guadalupe (Hernandez) Carrillo. He married Gail Crandall (Smeltzer) on May 17, 1975 in Sterling. John attended Wallace School, receiving the American Legion Award. He was a proud member of the SHS Class of 1954. John was active in sports, especially baseball. His1954 team was inducted into the SHS Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003. He was also active in basketball, football, and track.
John was a member and past vice president of Latin American Social Club, member of the Moose club, member of the Sterling American Legion, past Don of the Fiesta celebration, parade organizer for many fiesta parades, past member of St. Mary's School promoters, and very active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sterling, IL.
John served in the US Navy from 1954 to 1958, serving on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Yorktown and the destroyer K.D. Bailey DD217. He retired in 1985 from the Sterling Police Department as Captain after 26 years, and continued as Captain at the Dixon Correctional Center, retiring in December 2002 as Supply Supervisor.
Survived by his wife Gail of Sterling; children, Jared Carrillo, Michael Carrillo, Carl (Edna) Carrillo, Dan (Melissa) Carrillo, Christine (Howard) Moody, David (Kelli) Carrillo, Mark (Julie) Smeltzer, and Karyn (John Lopez) Smeltzer; 26 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; sisters, Lupe (Eric) Larson, Concha (Randy) Sitter and Anita (Javier) Aguilar; sisters-in-law, Mary L. Carrillo; Roberta Diaz, Teresa Crandall, Diana (Kent) Verkruysse and Pam Crandall; brother-in-law, Douglas (Rachael) Crandall; and many loving nieces and nephews.
Predeceased by his parents, stepmother Dolores (Lola) Carrillo; sister and brother-in-law, Matilde (Mauricio) Granados; brother, Lino Carrillo; stepbrother, Salvador Diaz; brothers-in-law, Dale Crandall and Harold E. Crandall; and mother-in-law and father-in-law Elizabeth and Harold E. Crandall.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 12th at the McDonald Funeral Home in Rock Falls with rosary recited at 3:45 p.m. Celebration of the Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, August 13th at St. Mary Catholic Church in Sterling, with Reverend Don Ahles and The Very Reverend James Keenan co-officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Sterling.
In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established to St. Mary Catholic Church and the Sterling School Foundation.
Online condolences may be sent to www.mcdonaldfuneralhomes.com