John Gutierrez

He was born November 23, 1943 in Hillsboro, Illinois to Manuel and Virginia (Eckert) Gutierrez. He has a younger brother, Manuel. He grew up in East St. Louis and Washington Park, raised his family in O’Fallon, Missouri and spent his retirement in Byrdstown, Tennessee, where he was known as “Missouri John”.

John attended and graduated from East St. Louis High School. He attended 2 years of Junior College. He worked for 30 years in the computer production industry starting with the Monsanto Chemical Plant located in O’Fallon, Missouri. This branch of Monsanto later became MEMC, where he retired as a Floor Production Supervisor.

On June 11, 1966, he married Judy S. Prokopf at St. Patrick’s Church in East St. Louis, Illinois, and they spent 48 years together. They had two children, Lisa and Jason and on November 15, 1993, he became a very proud Grandfather to Samantha Rae Healey.

He was a hard-working, proud and quiet man, who deeply loved his family and enjoyed being outdoors, boating, fishing and spending time with his loved ones.

John was preceded in death by his mother, Virginia (Eckert) Gutierrez on January 28, 2012.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Judy (Prokopf) Gutierrez of Byrdstown, Tennessee; his daughter, Lisa Healey of Belleville, Illinois and his son Jason Gutierrez of O’Fallon, Illinois; his granddaughter, Samantha Healey of Belleville, Illinois; his brother Manuel (Donna) Gutierrez of O’Fallon, Illinois; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Eugene and Louise Means of Byrdstown, Tennessee; his brother-in-law, Leroy Prokopf of Byrdstown, Tennessee; ; his nephews, Bradley ( Jade) Gutierrez of Belleville, Illinois, Chad Gutierrez of Belleville, Illinois and Brett Gutierrez of O’Fallon, Illinois; his half brother, Tim (Marci) Gutierrez of Hillsboro, Illinois, half sister Martina Gutierrez of Windsor, Illinois and Stephanie Gutierrez of Humboldt, Illinois; and many uncles, aunts, cousins and friends

Memorials in John’s memory may be made to The American Heart Association or to the Wounded Warrior Project. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.valhallagardensandfuneralhome.com .

Friends may call from 11-3 at Valhalla-Gaerdner-Holten Funeral Home on Sunday, August 3, 2014. Service is at the funeral home at 1 pm on Monday, August 4, 2014. Inurnment to follow at Valhalla Gardens of Memory.