John H. Petty

John H. Petty, age 91, of Pittsfield died June 27, 2024, at Blessing Hospital in Quincy with his wife, children, and many grandchildren at his side.  He was born January 1, 1933, in Phoenix, AZ to Mary Emma and Daniel David Hicks Petty, Sr.

John was raised in Pittsfield where he attended Pittsfield High School. During his junior year, he appeared before the school board and successfully petitioned the start of Saukee Baseball and was later named Captain in their first year.  He participated in football and basketball, captaining both of those teams and was a member of Pittsfield’s High School’s National Honor Society. He enlisted into the United States Marine Corps June 5, 1951, after graduation from Pittsfield High School.  He arrived in Korea November 17, 1951, and returned home December 21, 1952, before being honorably discharged June 4, 1954.  He received a Commendation with Combat V Device, UN Medal, Korean Service, and a Good Conduct Medal.  John returned home and attended the University of Illinois where he played football and baseball.

John married Bonnie Sue Lashmett on June 4, 1960, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Pittsfield and would proudly say, “it was the best thing that ever happened to me.”  He would later run the Petty Shell Station Garage in Pittsfield before working as a contract pipe fitter for CIPS in the Central Illinois area with his business partner and lifelong friend, Don Welbourne. John would then join his father and Uncle Barney Petty as a carpenter in the construction business in which he would remain for the rest of his professional career, managing John Petty & Sons for 51-years. John developed Petty Subdivision in Pittsfield in the late 1970’s. John took tremendous pride in being a 4th generation carpenter in Pike County, continually reading and studying his craft as a carpenter, becoming one of the finest, and training significant others to go on to have successful careers in the profession.  His work ethic was well known, and he built and repaired numerous commercial and residential structures throughout Pittsfield. 

John was an avid stock car driver and builder of cars in the 1940’s and 1950’s running numerous cars through the Pittsfield racetrack. John was one of the Saukees greatest fans and supporters following both boys and girls sports scrupulously for over six decades.  John was a fixture on the track in his lawn chair for football and the front row at Voshall Gymnasium for both basketball and volleyball.  It is nearly impossible to calculate the number of games he attended over the decades, but he knew where every field, gym, and track was located within a two-hundred-mile radius. He was an avid Cardinal fan and would often recall many of the games he listened to as a teenager in the 1940’s when they were broadcast on a Philco radio as people gathered around the Pittsfield square to listen.   

John was proud of his faith at St. Mary’s Catholic Church and was a fourth-degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus.  John coached Little League Baseball for numerous years in the late 60’s and 70’s and was also a former Pikeland Unit 10 School Board Member. During his time on the Board, he would encourage three high school girls, including his daughter, to go before the board in 1977 to initiate the girls’ basketball program at PHS.  

John is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Bonnie Sue (Lashmett), eight children:

Jane A. Riley (David) of Pittsfield; Joseph H. Petty, (Sarah) of Rochester; John C. Petty of Pittsfield; Patrick H. Petty, (Shellie) of Mt. Pleasant, WI; Adam M. Petty (friend Dawn Collver) of Pittsfield; Paul F. Petty, (Gretchen) of Pittsfield; Kate A. Marable (David) of Pittsfield; Jonas H. Petty (Jane Ann) of Quincy.

Twenty-five grandchildren: Daniel Riley (Lindsay); Anne Peck, (Staunton); Robin Lozier, (Matt); John Henry II, Katherine, Grace; John Patrick; Emma DeWitt (Eric), Joseph Robert, Hannah; Seth, Elijah (Abbey), Noah, Javan; Alexandra, Maggie, Josie, Lainie, Bodine, Asher; Finley, Jonas, Mickey Roy, and James Edward along with fourteen great-grandchildren. Brother, Thomas Petty of Pittsfield; sister, Debbie Petty of Pittsfield; sister-in-law, Joan Huntley of Springfield, and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Joyce Gregory of St. Peters and brother-in-law, Don Gregory, brother Daniel David Petty of Phillips, WI and sister-in-law Joann; and a granddaughter Anna Louise Marable.

Mass of Resurrection will be held at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Pittsfield, IL. Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at Niebur Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Saukee Nation, Knights of Columbus or John Petty Trade School Scholarship Fund to support a graduate from Pittsfield High School. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.nieburfh.com. Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield is handling the arrangements.

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