John Raymond Blue: September 26, 1956 – June 17, 2022

A member of our Maintenance Family passed last month at his home in Goreville.  Many of us knew John Blue as “the Mow Man” at Camp Ondessonk, but he was so much more.  He was a great employee, according to Ranger Mike Jennings.  He worked tirelessly mowing the many acres of grass at Camp throughout the hot summers.  During the rest of the year, he would work on many other projects around Camp, and he was especially an excellent concrete man.

Mike shared that, “John became a good friend over the past five years he worked at Camp.  He was like family.”  John was always joking making everyone’s day brighter.  Jim Shively (maintenance volunteer) said, “John was goodhearted – his heart was as big as he was.  He was a fine, fine man; I think everyone would agree with that.”

John on the new tractor purchased by donations raised last year at Valentine’s Day.

John was born September 26, 1956, in East St. Louis.  He married Kathleen Lyons February 4, 1978, and shared 40 years of marriage before she preceded him in death March 6, 2018.  John was a graduate of Assumption High School in East St. Louis and after graduation, worked more than 30 years for Local #44 Laborers Union in Collinsville, Ill.  After retirement, John began working in maintenance for Camp Ondessonk.  He also served as the assistant football coach for Vienna High School.  He loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and boating.

Thank you, John Blue, for your loyalty to Camp and for your friendship.  You will be dearly missed.