John Shewmaker
Bethalto | Save
John N. Shewmaker, 67, passed away at 2:20 am on Monday, December 24, 2012 at Alton Memorial Hospital.
He was born on December 12, 1945 in Alton, IL, the son of Norman A. and Lillie Mae Shewmaker.
He married Debra J. Aljets on June 7, 1969 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Wood River. She survives.
John retired from the U.S. Army as a sergeant. He served in the Viet Nam War in the 4th Infantry Division, Company C. He also worked as a dispatcher for the Bethalto Police Department, of which he was very proud. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Bethalto and a member of DAV. He enjoyed hunting, cars, riding his Harley, traveling, meeting with his morning coffee club and most of all spending time with his family and friends.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Nichole Shewmaker of Bethalto; a granddaughter, Jenna Shewmaker; a sister, Donna Tarrant of Virginia Beach, VA; two nieces, Toni Biffle of Virginia Beach, VA and Haley Rosenkranz of IN; a great nephew, Ricky Biffle; his mother-in-law, Margie Aljets of Moro; a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Donna and Dennis Rosenkranz of Moro; Roy Patton of Roxana, who served with him in Viet Nam and several aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a nephew, Lee Allen Tarrant and his father-in-law, Bobby Aljets.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 pm Friday, December 28, 2012 at Elias, Kallal & Schaaf Funeral Home in Bethalto.
Funeral services will be held 10 am Saturday, December 29, 2012 at Elias, Kallal and Schaaf Funeral Home in Bethalto, with Pastor Willard Meyer officiating.
Burial will be at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto with military rites by Alton VFW Post 1308.
Memorials may be made to Zion Lutheran School.
Online condolences and guestbook may be found at www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com
Elias, Kallal & Schaaf Funeral Home
