John M. Rhodes, 89, of Jacksonville, IL, died Sunday, July 30, 2023, at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital.

He was born April 3, 1934, the son of Charles Wolfe Rhodes and Florence Leonard Masters in Jacksonville. He married Sharon S. Hileman on January 15, 1976 in Las Vagas, NV, and she survives.

He is survived by two children from a previous marriage, John Eric Rhodes and Alice Gail Duewer. He is also survived by three sons and one daughter, Roger Lynn Butler (Sue) and Thomas Butler, both of Murrayville, Ronald W. McNulty, of Jacksonville, and Amy (Trent) Rhodes-Springer of Franklin; Eleven grandchildren, Jennifer (Steve) Miles, Jeremy Butler, Edward Butler, Michael McNulty, Jonathan (Jessica) Bulter, Josh (Larissa) Bulter, Breanna Butler, Cara Butler, Randley Springer, Madisyn Springer, and Reid Springer; and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Timothy W. Butler; and one daughter-in-law, Ron's wife, Shanna McNulty.

Mr. Rhodes was a 1951 graduate of Jacksonville High School, where he played on the 1950 undefeated football team. He later attended the University of Illinois, where he played for the intramural football program. John was a farmer, farming his family farms in Murrayville and Roodhouse. He loved the outdoors, where he grew up hunting and fishing with his father. He was a die-hard Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears fan. John grew up in a small family and thoroughly enjoyed the large family that he was now a part of.

A visitation will be held 10-11 AM Friday, August 4, 2023, at Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home in Jacksonville, followed by a private family service. Burial will be held at Diamond Grove Cemetery. Memorial gifts are suggested to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Condolences may be sent online at Buchanancody.com.