John F. “Jack” Rundquist, 100 of Butler, died Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023.
A private family service will be held. Bass Patton Dean Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Mr. Rundquist was born on May 14, 1923 to the late Harry and Olga Rundquist. A graduate of Moline High School with the class of 1941, he earned his bachelor of science degree from the University of Illinois in 1946 and his master of science degree in agronomy in 1947.
He married Anita Turner on Feb. 22, 1948, in Urbana, she preceded him in death. For most of their lives, the couple lived on the family farm, Evergreen Farms near Butler.
Mr. Rundquist was always interested in agriculture. In his early days, he rode his bicycle from his parents’ home in Joliet to his cousin’s place northwest of the city where he helped feed, water and care for chickens. His summer job after high school was working at the John Deere plant in Rock Island. He continued his love of agriculture by studying agronomy at the University of Illinois.
Mr. Rundquist followed his passion and dedicated his life to farming and to education, research and innovation in agriculture. Later in life, he pursued an interest in propagating and planting trees, and realized one of his dreams by harvesting crops of pecans at Evergreen Farms.
Among the many hats he wore, Mr. Rundquist served as a founding organizer and director of First Community Bank in Hillsboro from 1998 to 2022. He also served as director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture 1989 to 1991, as well as on the Illinois Department of Agriculture Board of Livestock Commissioners. He continued his service to his community as a member of the Hillsboro Community Unit School Board for 12 years.
Serving as an officer of county, state and national Pork Producer organizations, Mr. Rundquist traveled extensively, furthering the swine industry in the United States and internationally. Among his many honors and awards, he received Prairie Farmer magazine’s Master Farmer, Illinois Pork Producers Service Award, Commercial Producer of the Year by the National Swine Improvement Federation and Exceptional Service Award by the University of Illinois College of Agriculture Alumni Association.
Mr. Rundquist was an U.S. Army veteran and a member of the Butler Union Church.
In addition to his wife he was preceded in death by his grandson, Andrew K. Wedekind; sister, Margaret Zastrow; and nephew, Richard Osborne.
He is survived by his children, Ann (Jim) Butler, Barbara (George) Clark, John (Sherri) Rundquist, Martha (Mark) O’Mara and Becky (Wayne) Wedekind; grandchildren, John ( Kristal) Rundquist, Tyler (fiancé, Victoria) Rundquist , Kate Wedekind, Mike (Cassie) O’Mara and Kevin (Rose) O’Mara; great-grandchildren, Bode Niemeier, Bryce Niemeier, August Rundquist and Aspen Rundquist.
Memorials are suggested to Hillsboro Educational Foundation Anita and Jack Rundquist Scholarship, Rundquist family JBT Scholarship Fund at the University of Illinois Foundation or Butler Union Church.
