John Wurtsbaugh, 89, of Maryville, Ill., a retired salesman from the RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, passed away Thursday, February 16, 2017. Born to parents and predeceased by Gladys and Leroy Wurtsbaugh in Springfield, Ill., on June 16, 1927. John enlisted in the U.S. Navy during WWII.

A 1944 graduate of Jacksonville High School and subsequently a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Mr. Wurtsbaugh was known for his quick wit, ready smile and optimism.

On June 30, 1956, he married Leah, nee Hodson, Wurtsbaugh in Peoria, Ill., and they were married 52 years until her death in March of 2009.

John grew up in Jacksonville, Ill., and later lived in Peoria, Kansas City, Mo., Springfield, Ill., and Collinsville, Ill. John loved to golf, and did so as much as three times a week. He enjoyed fishing and every Thursday he and his friend Bill gambled. In the early 1970''s, he and his wife learned to ski in Grenoble, France, and shared this with their four daughters on annual ski trips to Vail, Co. He taught his four daughters, Cristie Keppeler, Holly Wurtsbaugh, Beth Parish and Martha Wegmann, a love of adventure and to travel through their annual vacations in National Parks and seeing all 50 states.

As a long-time member of the Rotary, he made a difference in his community and received the Paul Harris Fellow Award in recognition of his service.

John was resilient and lived life according to the philosophy, "rest if you must, but don''t you quit."

Memorials may be made to the Collinsville Rotary. Condolences can be expressed through this online guestbook.

A party in celebration of his life will be 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, February 25, 2017, at the Collinsville American Legion Oak Room.