obituaries

John Lavitus

Godfrey |

John Lavitus, age 103, passed away at 4:30 a.m. on Friday, January 12, 2018 at Barnes Jewish Hospital.

He was born on July 26, 1914 in Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, Canada the son of the late John and Veronica (nee: Checuki) Lavitus.He married Bertha  R, Bick on June 9, 1948 at the former St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in Alton, where the couple remained members for many years.  She survives.He graduated in 1936 from Alton Senior High School and later retired  in 1976  as a supervisor in the Selecting Department at Owens-Illinois Glass Works where he was employed for 40 years.John proudly served  in the United States Navy from 1943 – 1945 including the Europe-Africa-Mid-East and Asiatic-Pacific Theatre campaigns. He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alton and  a  life-time member of VFW Alton Post #1308, was an avid fisherman and enjoyed the outdoors, especially tending to his yard.In addition to his beloved wife of 69 years,he is also survived by a brother-in-law: Ellis Bick of Ballwin, Missouri,Many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.He was preceded in death by two brothers, Anthony Lavitus and Benjamin “Bennie” Lavitus, his foster parents; Tom and Elizabeth Montgomery, brothers-in-law; Lawrence Bick and Harry Bick, and sisters-in-law: Bernice Brinkman, Marie Richey, and Henrietta Smith.A prayer service will be Tuesday, January 16, 2018, 4:30 pm at Elias-Kallal & Schaaf Funeral Home in Godfrey followed by visitation from 5:00 – 700 p.m.A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, January 17, 2018, 10:00 a.m. atSt. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alton .  Interment will follow at Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto with military rites accorded by the V.F.W. Alton Post #1308 Ritual Team.Memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic School  or to St. Vincent DePaul Society at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.An on-line guestbook may be found online at www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com


Obit Provided By:
Elias, Kallal & Schaaf Funeral Home

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