Obituary for John Goodwin Sr.
John Goodwin, Sr., age 96, of Belleville, died Friday, August 12, 2022 at Cedar Ridge Nursing Home in Lebanon.
He was born September 24, 1925 in East St. Louis, IL, the son of the late Earl O. and Anne (White) Goodwin. He married Alice Dike in 1944. She preceded him in death in 2009.
Surviving are four sons: Circuit Judge (Ret.) John Goodwin, Jr. (Marianne) of Belleville, William Goodwin (Connie) of Goreville, IL, Terry Goodwin (Pam) of Fayetteville, IL and Clay Goodwin (Lisa) of Caseyville, IL; ten grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; and two nephews: Michael Goodwin and Gary Goodwin.
Besides his parents and wife, Mr. Goodwin was preceded in death by a daughter, Melody Goodwin; a grandson, James Goodwin; and a brother, William Goodwin.
John grew up in East St. Louis, working at the stockyards and for Mixon Buick in his teen years. He frequented Jimmy’s Malt Shop on St. Clair Ave. Education wasn’t as important as it should have been, and making a few bucks seemed to be the order of the day. All of it came to a halt when he was nineteen. In June of 1945, he went to war in the Pacific Theatre on the island of Okinawa as a combat infantryman, serving also as an MP. He was overseas for two years and left service with the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Upon his return he started work as a Switchman and retired as a Trainmaster for the Alton and Southern Railroad. He created the Used Bicycle Shop in Belleville and always had ten bikes available for charity each Christmas.
We join thousands of families each year in saying our father will be missed.
Private services and burial will be held. Donations in his memory may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Inez Thomas, the Mederi Group, Lisa Anderson and all the help at Cedar Ridge Nursing Home and VITAS Healthcare.
He was born September 24, 1925 in East St. Louis, IL, the son of the late Earl O. and Anne (White) Goodwin. He married Alice Dike in 1944. She preceded him in death in 2009.
Surviving are four sons: Circuit Judge (Ret.) John Goodwin, Jr. (Marianne) of Belleville, William Goodwin (Connie) of Goreville, IL, Terry Goodwin (Pam) of Fayetteville, IL and Clay Goodwin (Lisa) of Caseyville, IL; ten grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; and two nephews: Michael Goodwin and Gary Goodwin.
Besides his parents and wife, Mr. Goodwin was preceded in death by a daughter, Melody Goodwin; a grandson, James Goodwin; and a brother, William Goodwin.
John grew up in East St. Louis, working at the stockyards and for Mixon Buick in his teen years. He frequented Jimmy’s Malt Shop on St. Clair Ave. Education wasn’t as important as it should have been, and making a few bucks seemed to be the order of the day. All of it came to a halt when he was nineteen. In June of 1945, he went to war in the Pacific Theatre on the island of Okinawa as a combat infantryman, serving also as an MP. He was overseas for two years and left service with the rank of Staff Sergeant.
Upon his return he started work as a Switchman and retired as a Trainmaster for the Alton and Southern Railroad. He created the Used Bicycle Shop in Belleville and always had ten bikes available for charity each Christmas.
We join thousands of families each year in saying our father will be missed.
Private services and burial will be held. Donations in his memory may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Inez Thomas, the Mederi Group, Lisa Anderson and all the help at Cedar Ridge Nursing Home and VITAS Healthcare.