John F VanHyfte

John F. VanHyfte, 95, a life-long resident of Annawan, passed away on May 30, 2018, at his home. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 4, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Annawan. Reverend S. Stephen Engelbrecht will celebrate. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery. Visitation will take place from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at the church, prior to the Funeral Mass. The Rosary will be prayed at 9:45 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Vandemore Funeral Home & Crematory, Atkinson is assisting the family with these arrangements.

John was born on September 15, 1922, the son of John and Emma (Doubler) VanHyfte, in rural Annawan. He married Elaine L. DeMink on June 17, 1942, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Annawan. John was a lifetime farmer in rural Annawan. He retired in 1977.  John joined his brother, Lawrence, in the auctioneering business in 1948, and also worked at the Kewanee Sale Barn. He retired from auctioneering in 2000. John’s favorite past-times were playing cards, watching his crops planted and harvested, and spending time at the Rediger Auction Shed. He loved watching the Chicago Cubs!

Those left to cherish his memory include his devoted wife of 75 years, Elaine; daughters, Linda (Jim Hamilton) Rosebeck, Annawan, Carol (Dennis) Diericx, Geneseo, and Judy (Rick) Rediger, Wyanet; and daughter-in-law, Fran VanHyfte, Annawan. John is also survived by 13 grandchildren, Tammy Neuleib, Terry Rosebeck, Mark VanHyfte, Tracey Rosebeck, Zach VanHyfte, Heather Wellman, Tara Clark, Tonya Rosebeck, Trisha Warren, Ty Noard, Nick VanHyfte, Mandi Moon Thurston, and Jonathan Moon. His two step-grandchildren are Jeremy Rediger and Seth Rediger.  He also has 26 great-grandchildren, five step-great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

John was preceded in death by his parents, John and Emma, two sons, Jim and Allan VanHyfte, two infant grandsons, Paul VanHyfte and Clint Noard, two sons-in-law, Lawrence Rosebeck and Keith Noard, two sisters, Marie (infancy) and Kathryn VanHyfte-Young, and five brothers, Anthony, William “Bill” Sr., Lee, Lawrence, and Adrian.