John P. Deege
John P. Deege, age 93, of 4221 Maine St. Quincy, formerly of Liberty, died on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 12:20 p.m. in the home. He was born June 26, 1916 in Great Bend, KS a son of Fred and Myrtle (Ireland) Deege.
John was raised by Henry and Leanore Schmiedeskamp of Quincy. John first married Elizabeth Sprague in Peoria, IL and together they had two children, Jon Michael Deege and Diana Deege McClelland. Elizabeth preceded him in death. He later married Betty Thompson Marshall on May 24, 1968 in Macomb, IL and she survives.
John was an attorney who practiced for over 50 years and retired in September of 2008.
He was a graduate of Madison Grade School, Quincy High School, Illinois College at Jacksonville, IL and the University of Illinois Law School. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II from 1944-1946 and from 1950-1952 in the Korean War.
John was active with the Boy Scouts of America, he was Past President of the Optimist Club, Past President of Tri-County Association for Crippled Children, Past Exalted Ruler of the Elks Club, Past President of the Musselman Audubon Society and Past President of the Adams County Bar Association. He served as Quincy City Attorney for a short time and was a member of various organizations and church boards throughout his lifetime.
In addition to his wife Betty, survivors also include his son Jon Michael Deege and his wife Donna of Des Moines, IA; his daughter, Diana Deege McClelland and husband Louis of Quincy; step-children, Bruce Marshall and his wife Tammy of Liberty, IL; Sally Marshall Skirvin and husband Larry of Barry, IL;
5 Grandchildren, Chris Dougherty and Jon Eric Dougherty; Scott , Abby and Libby Deege;
7 Step-Grandchildren Josh, Andy and Jenna Skirvin, Nicole and John Marshall, Shane and Michael McClelland.
10 Great Grandchildren and 4 Great-Great Grandchildren also survive. John was preceded in death by his parents and Henry and Leanore Schmiedeskamp and a step-son Brad Marshall.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. in the Duker & Haugh Funeral Home by the Rev. Henry Pratt. Private interment will be in Greenmount Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday evening from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Duker & Haugh Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the Boy Scouts of America, Camp Callahan or Blessing Foundation for HOSPICE. A special thanks to the staff at Bickford Cottage for the love and tender care provided to John and his family.
I knew your Dad and Betty for years when he was practicing law. He was such a kind generous spirit.
We extend our sympathy to Betty and the family~
Diana, Lou and family
Our deepest sympathy for the loss of your father.
I know this has been a difficult time for you and your family. Your memories I hope we be your solace in the coming days.
Please know we are thinking of you but are out of town in CA at the moment and will not be able
to express this in person.
Ken and Rose Mary Nesbit
Mike, Donna and Family – so sorry to read of your dad’s passing. Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers. Sue Cross Mooers
I am a client and a friend of Michael Deege and Michael has been kind enough to recently share stories about his father with me and our respective clients. Therefore, I felt like I knew a little bit more about this wonderful man then just what I read in the paper. My prayers go out to the Deege family.
Dear Mike Deege and Family –
Please accept our condelences and know that we are thinking of you today as you put your father to his final resting place.
Your friends at Syverson Strege and Company in West Des Moines, IA
So sorry to learn of John’s passing from his earthly home…my mother, Marian Grimmer, lives across the hall from John’s room at Bickford. I am particularly sad as I have memories of John and Betty go back some 15 or more years when we all had coffee in the morning or lunch at noon at Virginia’s coffee shop down on 6th street.
Their table would play Trivia and whenever they came to a theatre question, they would always consult with me or my coffee companions, Monica Scholz and Cheryl Kaiser….we had a lot of fun in those good “old days”. For years John and Betty attended the Quincy Community Theatre and never missed a show. They were so dear…and I am sad that Betty doesn’t even know her dear John is gone…I saw her in the hall today with her lovely smile…May God Bless them and your family during this sad time, and may the Holidays bring happy memories of better times.
Barbara Rowell