John Michael Munson, 66, of Rockford died
Aug. 29, 2015, on his birthday, at his home in
Rockford. He fought a long, courageous battle until he
"slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God"
this past weekend.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Merritt Funeral
Home, Mendota with the Rev. Michael Morrell officiating.
Burial will be at Restland Cemetery, Mendota.
Visitation will be from noon until services Thursday in
the funeral home.
Mr. Munson was born Aug. 29, 1949, in Mendota to
Francis Gail and E. Marian (Barth) Munson.
John graduated from Mendota High School in 1967. In
1972 he graduated from the University of Illinois College
of Engineering in Champaign/Urbana. Upon graduation
he served in the U.S. Navy and was stationed at the
Kamiseya Naval Base near Tokyo, Japan. Following his
military service he worked a career as a civil engineer, retiring
from McClure Engineering in Rockford in 2009.
A brilliant mind, John loved art, music and culture. An
avid craftsman he hand-built over 20 classical guitars and
many regulator wall clocks. As a fun project, he authored
and published a cookbook, "70 Soups" by Gus Pacho. He
had traveled extensively in England, Germany, Spain and
Japan. John also enjoyed photography, gardening and playing
the guitar. While caring for the home estate at Munson's
Curve in Mendota, he was awarded the "Garden of
the Month" by Mendota Garden Club.
A dutiful and loving son, brother, uncle and friend, John
will be greatly missed.
Survivors include his fiancee, April Winkle of Bourbon,
Ind.; brothers, Allen and Tom Munson, both of Mendota,
Robert (Phyllis) Munson of Matthews, N.C., and Steve
(Melody) Munson of Sterling; one sister, Laurie Munson of
Kansas City, Mo.; and 12 nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister,
Susan; and one brother, William.
Gifts or memorials may be directed to the Leukemia and
Lymphoma Society (www.lls.org).