John E. Richardson

John E. Richardson, 87, of Van Wert, passed away at 11 a.m., Wednesday at Divine Rehabilitation and Nursing at Shane Hill, Rockford.

He was born on February 12, 1934, in Flint, Michigan, the son of the late Bernard and Helen Any (Kearns) Richardson. On May 29, 1954, he married the former Peggy Louise Myers who preceded him in death on February 8, 2008. On November 8, 2008, he married Mary Jane Perry who also preceded him in death on February 24, 2019.

Family survivors include his two sons, Paul E. (Anne) Richardson of Wren, Stephen E. Richardson of Convoy; a daughter, Jill A. (Todd) Williams of Rockford; eight grandchildren, Seth Richardson, Kayla Richardson, Amy Jo Bruce, Linda Enicks, Ryan On, Bryce Richardson, Brant Richardson, and Wyatt Richardson; two great grandchildren, Jedidiah and Ezekiel; and three step-children, Daniel (Tracie) Perry of Warren, Illinois, John (Marla) Perry of Savannah, Georgia, and Barbara Perry Young of Warren, Illinois.

He was also preceded in death by a grandson, Matthew K. Richardson; a sister, Leone McLaren; and a brother, Donald Richardson.

John was a journeyman tool and die maker and ordained minister of the Missionary Church Association and the United Brethren in Christ denominations. John was a 1954 graduate of Fort Wayne Bible College and a 1978 graduate of Huntington College with a Masters on Christian Ministries. He was ordained in the Missionary Church in 1962. He was the former pastor at the Christian Union Church in Vaughnville, Missionary Church in Groveland, Etna Avenue UB in Christ Church in Huntington, the Wren United Brethren in Christ Church, the Green brier United Brethren in Christ Church and the Elgin UB in Christ Church. Later he was a member of Calvary Evangelical Church where he taught Sunday school for a number of years, served as deacon of visitation  and member of the church choir. John was also a tool and die maker at Teleflex retiring in 2002.

Services will be held at 4 p.m., Monday, March 1, 2021, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home with Pastor Clark Williman of Calvary Evangelical Church officiating. There will be calling hours 1 - 4 p.m. prior to the service.

Preferred memorials are to CHP Hospice.

Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded at cowanfuneralhome.com, Tribute Wall.

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