John H Feken

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday in the First United Methodist Church in Shelbyville, Illinois with Rev. Lee Lovett and Rev. James P. McClarey officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Saturday in Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville. A private graveside service will be held in Glenwood Cemetery, Shelbyville. Memorials may be given to the First United Methodist Church in Shelbyville or a charity of your choice.

Mr. Feken was born on November 21, 1936 in Pontiac, Illinois, the son of John Henry and Ada May Engel Feken. He grew up on the family farm in Colfax, Illinois, where he developed his love for animals. In his later youth, he and his brother Charles “Chuck” repaired and raced Harley-Davidson motorcycles. John married Phyllis G. Eversole on March 21, 1964. They moved from Saybrook, Illinois to a family farm north of Shelbyville, where he continued farming with his father-in-law, Everett Eversole, on the Eversole Farms. During John’s farming career, he was involved with soil conservation, farm and auto mechanical repair, and was a member of the Farm Bureau.

John was also very active in his churches, beginning with the Evangelical United Brethren Church of Westervelt and later with the First United Methodist Church in Shelbyville. While a member of First Methodist, he volunteered in the finishing of the new education building, completed training as a lay leader, was a member of the Methodist Men and Questers Sunday School Class, drove and repaired the church bus, photographed many church events, and was a parking lot greeter.

Over the years John was involved with the local Boy Scouts. He enjoyed home construction and remodeling, learning about space and medical sciences, and was fascinated by airplanes of all sizes. He also loved sharing family history, spending time with his children and grandchildren, and visiting with his friends at the local coffee shop.

Surviving are his wife, Phyllis; sons, John E. Feken and wife Sara Ann of Waterman, Illinois and Mike Feken and wife Dawn of Cowden, Illinois; sister-in-law, Winnie Feken of Lexington, Illinois; three grandchildren, Charles Joseph Feken, Kayla Lea Perry and husband James and Josephine Mae Feken; and great grandson, Dakota Lee Perry.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Chuck Feken.