John Castle

ST. JOSEPH – John Castle, 81, of St. Joseph passed away at 6:59 p.m. Saturday (Dec. 16, 2017) at his home.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, at the St. Joseph Church of Christ. Greg Smith and David Barcus will officiate. Burial will be in Patterson Cemetery, St. Joseph. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Freese Funeral Home, 302 E. Grand Ave., St. Joseph.

John was born June 27, 1936, in Homer Township the son of Mason and Olive Fiock Castle. He married Ruth Ann Winter on June 24, 1962, at St. Joseph. She survives.

Also surviving are his children, Jo Ann (Troy) Creek of Tolono, Connie Taylor of Cape Canaveral, Fla., and Karen Castle of St. Joseph; seven grandchildren, Jordan, Shelby, Carter Creek, John Michael (Marissa), Justin, Elizabeth and Ashley Taylor; three great-grandchildren, Donaven and Izaiah Taylor and Kaison Johnson; sisters, Edna (Don) Fruhling of St. Joseph and LaVerne David of Theodore, Ala.; and brother, Lloyd Castle of St. Joseph.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Francis Castle; and grandson, Cameron Creek.

John farmed in the St. Joseph area all his life. He was a member of the St. Joseph Church of Christ where he served as a deacon and trustee.

He was a member of the American Agriculture Movement, the Champaign County Farm Bureau and a honorary member of the FFA.

John enjoyed camping, tinkering in his shed and spending time with his grandchildren. He was also a lover of all things John Deere.

Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.