John Joseph Sanchez

John Joseph Sanchez, 89, of Ottawa, died Monday, December 24, 2007 at Rivershores Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Marseilles. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church with the Rev. Gerald J. Meyer officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park with full military honors. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Gladfelter Funeral Home with liturgical prayers at 4 p.m. Mr. Sanchez was born March 8, 1918, in LaCaste, Texas, to Lazaro and Marcelina (Rojas) Sanchez. He married the former Verlena Elsie Daggett on October 28, 1941, in Canton, Mo. She died January 30, 1994. He served in the U.S. Army in World War II and the Korean War and retired from the Army in 1964 after serving 20 years. In 1964, he was employed by the Illinois Department of Transportation and retired from there in 1984 as a Safety and Claims representative after 20 years of service with the State of Illinois. He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, a former member of the Knights of Columbus, the Reserve Officer Association and the State of Illinois Association of Engineering Technicians. He is survived by three daughters, Caroline (John) Jackson, Pamela Miskell and Marcy Monroe, all of Ottawa; a son, John J. (Diane) Jr. of Ottawa; eight grandchildren, Pat, Bob, Tami and John David Jackson, Roger Miskell Jr., Jennifer Nodland, Patrick and Alexi Sanchez; fifteen great-grandchildren; a great, great granddaughter; a brother, Dominic (Billie) of Downers Grove, Ill.; and two step-brothers, Lasadio Ruiz of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Rosalio Ruiz of Anamosa, Iowa. A sister, Gloria Myers; and a brother, Lucia, preceded him in death. Pallbearers will be Pat, John Sr., John David, Bob, Bobby and Joey Jackson, Roger Miskell, Jr., and Patrick Sanchez. Memorials may be directed to the donor's choice.