Jason Hunt

CANTON, Mo. -- Jason Hunt, 37, of 815 Washington St., Canton, was welcomed into heaven Wednesday (Nov. 7, 2012) from Barnes Hospital in St. Louis.

He was born Nov. 22, 1974, in Muncie, Ind., a son of Mary Jo Hunt and Greg Hunt.

Jason married his best friend, Kate Van Gilder, on Oct. 13, 2001, in St. Francis Catholic Church.

He attended Quincy Public Schools, where he was active in Boy Scouts. He was a 1993 graduate of Quincy High School, where he played football.

Jason graduated in 1997 from Ball State University and made lifelong "roadie" friends there with his Phi Delta Theta fraternity brothers.

He had a longtime involvement with the family business, helping run Ashley Furniture in Quincy.

Jason battled kidney issues and was blessed with a transplant in 2000. When he was 10, Jason told his mother he wanted as many children as he'd be able to afford. He overcame doctors' concerns that he might never be a dad. Jason went on to father five children with Kate, the love of his life.

Jason was more than a father, husband, brother and son. He was a friend who never met a stranger, and his love for those close to him had no bounds. He enjoyed family time, music and sports, and was a huge St. Louis Cardinals fan. His passion for politics was well known, and Jason would have been disappointed to learn the latest election results. Jason was a man of compassion, courage and character.

In addition to his wife, Jason is survived by four children, Oscar, Abe, Nora and Atticus, all at home; his parents, Mary Jo Hunt, and Greg and Mary Faith Hunt of Quincy; a sister, Jessica Hunt of Quincy; a grandfather, Carter Hunt of Fort Smith, Ark.; his mother- and father-in-law, Bruce and Kathy Van Gilder of Indiana; a brother-in-law, Joe Van Gilder, and a sister-in-law, Kelley (Alan) Van Gilder Treado, and their children, Cole and Grace. He is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Jason was preceded in death by a son, Thomas Beckett Hunt; his maternal grandmother, Mabel White; and his paternal grandmother, Shirl Hunt.

SERVICES: 9 a.m. Monday in St. Francis Solanus Catholic Church, with the Rev. James Wheeler conducting.

VISITATION: 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday in Hansen-Spear Funeral Home.

MEMORIALS: The Hunt Children Education Fund

ARRANGEMENTS: Hansen-Spear Funeral Home.

WEBSITE: www.hansenspear.com.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.whig.com.