John E. Currie, 77, of rural Cerro Gordo, died on Sunday, June 7, 2020, at HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur.
A private family service will be conducted Friday, June 12, at Dawson and Wikoff Funeral Home in Mt. Zion. Burial will be held in Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield with military honors provided by the U.S. Army Honors Team.
Mr. Currie was born July 26, 1942, in Taylor Springs, to Lovel M. and Bessie (Carlock) Currie. He married Frances D. Boucher on June 26, 1970, in Hillsboro, and she survives.
He attended Coffeen and Hillsboro schools, graduating from Hillsboro High School in 1960. He then served in the U.S. Army, from 1962 to 1964, which included one year in South Korea during peacetime.
Following his military service, Mr. Currie moved to Decatur to begin employment at Caterpillar, where he worked until his retirement in 1995.
He was dedicated to farming throughout his life, beginning as a young boy with his family in Coffeen, later working central Illinois soil in areas near Maroa, Cerro Gordo, Oakley and Oreana. Another interest was history, specifically presidential history.
Mr. Currie was a committed Southern Baptist, originally attending East Fork Baptist Church in Coffeen. He was a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church at its former 2000 North Main location in Decatur for 30 years, where he was ordained as deacon. He was most recently a member of First Baptist Church in Mt. Zion.
In addition to his wife of almost 50 years, he is survived by his daughter, Julie (Jason) Bronson; grandchildren, Addison and Nolan Bronson; two brothers, Bill Currie and Tom (Jo Ann) Currie; along with nieces and nephews.
Mr. Currie was preceded in death by his parents; infant brother, Elias Currie; older brother, Bob Currie; sisters-in-law, Carol Currie and Mary Currie; and nephew, Gary Currie.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to First Baptist Church in Mt. Zion or Baptist Children’s Home in Carmi.
Online condolences to the family may be left at www.dawson-wikoff.com.
