John E. "Big John" Slifer, Sr. (87) of Effingham

John E. “Big John” Slifer Sr., 87, of Effingham, IL, passed away on Thursday, November 23, 2017 at HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham, IL.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon Saturday, December 2 at Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham, IL. Burial will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Effingham, with military rites. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Saturday prior to the service at the funeral home. Donations may be made in honor of John E. Slifer Sr. to the Effingham American Legion Post 120, 200 W. Washington Street, Effingham, IL 62401.

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John was born on April 5, 1930, in Effingham County, IL, the son of John H. and Lula (Poe) Slifer. He married Phyllis Ione Osman on May 14, 1949, in Effingham, IL, and to this union were born three children. She preceded him in death on July 10, 2009. John served his country in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict from 1950-1952 as Staff Sergeant and small weapons instructor. John was a member of the Effingham American Legion Post 120 and Christ’s Church of Effingham. He was involved in home construction for many years and worked at Best Homes as Plant Manager. In his free time, John was a master woodworker and avid fisherman. He loved to camp, bird watch, mow his lawn, and play cards with his friends.

John is survived by his sister, Betty Jean Slifer Scott of Casey; daughters, Donna (Charles Stephens) Smith of Champaign and Diana (Louis) Davis of Georgia; son, John E. (Kristy) Slifer Jr. of Effingham; grandchildren, Josh, Jaime, Kelsey, Ryan, Katie, Heather, and John William; 10 great-grandchildren; and brother-in-law, John (Peggy) Osman of Waterloo.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Phyllis; brother and sister-in-law, Leroy “Bud” and Betty Slifer; brother-in-law, Donald Scott; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, William and Ione Osman.