John Albert Huls

FITHIAN — John Albert Huls, 96, of Fithian passed away at 1:20 p.m. Tuesday (July 17, 2018) at Meadowbrook Health Center, Urbana.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 21, 2018, at St. John Lutheran Church, Royal. Pastor Jay Johnson will officiate. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Burial will be in Stearns Cemetery, Fithian. Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph, is in charge of arrangements.

He was born Jan. 30, 1922, in Compromise Township, Flatville, to his parents, Jasper John and Taalke Alberts (Ehmen) Huls. He married Betty Lou Anaker on Dec. 18, 1954, with Pastor Ben Merrill of Villa Grove Christian Church officiating.

He is survived by his wife, Betty, and their three children, David John (Cheryl) Huls of Armstrong, Kenneth Dean Huls of Normal and Barbara Louise (Glenn) Carter of Chehalis, Wash. He is also survived by eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Grandchildren are Sean Joseph (Anna) Huls, Stephen Carl (Dawn) Huls, Stanley John Huls, Jonathan David (Brigette) Huls, Robert Martin (Leanna) Huls, Eric Joseph (Misty) Huls, Nicholas John Carter and Caroline Taalke Carter. Great-grandchildren are Andrew John (Sean); Morgan Grace, Madison Christine, Makenzie Ann and Macey Elizabeth (Stephen); Colton John and Casen Dale (Stanley); Rowan Vera and Carys Ainsley (Robert); and Gavin Barbee and Zade Kenneth (Eric).

He was preceded in death

by his parents; five sisters, Ida (Louis) Duitsman, Trientje (John) Sage, Anna (Willie) Wilken, Bertha Johanna Huls and Antke (Herman) Peters; and four brothers, Albert (Rose) Huls, Bernard (Betty) Huls, Luis (Rose) Huls and Lawrence Huls.

John was a farmer all his life. He started when he was 17 and semiretired when he was 65. He continued to farm some land until he was 69 and worked in farming until he was 90 by helping his son and grandson. He also did construction work and raised hogs, lambs and beef cattle.

He served as a Fithian Grade School board member for four years and was a drainage commissioner for Oakwood Union District 1 and Ogden District 2 for 21 years. He also served as a deacon at St. John Lutheran Church in Royal for four years and as a church building committee member for four years. He was on the advisory board of the Fithian Boy Scout troop for two years, president of the Fithian-Muncie Little League for one year and was on the fundraising committee for the original construction of Country Health Nursing in Gifford.

John’s hobbies were trapping and hunting, traveling, reading, camping with his family, walking, writing family history, telling stories and any farm work, especially discing.

Memorials may be made to the Fithian-Muncie- Collison Volunteer Fire Department or St. John Lutheran Church, Royal.