John E. Pugh

CHARLESTON, IL – John Ernest Pugh, age 78, passed on peacefully on Saturday, March 9, 2019, after a long, happy, eventful life spent in the United Kingdom and America, ending in Charleston, Illinois. A Memorial Service, honoring and celebrating his life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, 2019 at the Mattoon First Christian Church located at 1600 Wabash Avenue with Pastor Steve Hayes officiating. Inurnment will be in the family grave located at St. Michael’s Church in Cheshire, United Kingdom. It is requested that donations in his honor be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and mailed in care of Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Dr., Charleston, IL 61920.

John was most grateful for: being born on May 31, 1940 at Caerleon in South Wales, United Kingdom; benefiting from having a devoted mother; growing up at Draethen in the heart of the Welsh countryside; attending Caerphilly Grammar School for Boys; studying Metallurgy at Cardiff University where he met his beloved wife Pat; parenting two exceptional daughters Caroline and Bronwen; working for two International Mining Companies, Cominco and Outokumpu with his good friend Risto Alho; enjoying so many wonderful days of family life; being able to visit so many fine friends and beautiful places throughout Europe and America; supporting football club Newport County AFC for over sixty-five years through all their ups and downs; surviving prostate cancer due to the excellent work of Dr. William Catalona; and having the privilege of living in the United States of America during the time of President Barack Obama.

John fully appreciated his close ties with his uncle Bob and Bob’s son Robert, father-in-law Leandro, son-in-laws Cedric and Mark; and grandsons Fraser and Owen. Furthermore, John was eternally indebted to the ladies in his life who contributed so much in so many loving ways; especially wife Pat, mother Sarah Ann, daughters Caroline and Bronwen; angelic mother-in-law Nancy; the one and only Aunty Barbara, Aunt Jean and daughters Pat and Jaqui, Aunt Flo, Aunt Violet, and granddaughter Sophie. What a fabulous family to behold and to be an integral part of in order to enjoy life’s precious experiences.

Last, but not least, John treasured memories of his ineffable feline friend Toby, and two almost human dogs, Toby and Simba. These lovely animals contributed greatly to his spirit of family life!

John’s final journey transferring from precious life to sublime death is best summed up in the poem “Going Home” by Sven Nader.

Going Home

Once I was afraid of dying, terrified of ever-lying
petrified of leaving family, home and friends.
Thoughts of absence from my dear ones,
brought a melancholy tear once,
and a dreadful fear of when life ends.
But those days are long behind me,
fear of leaving does not bind me,
and departure does not hold a single care.
Peace does comfort as I ponder, a reunion in the yonder,
with my dearest one who is waiting for me there.

Amen

“Of course, I believe in God. Without God, life and death has no real meaning. Note the first line of the 23rd Psalm:
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.”

John E. Pugh 2/20/2017

Funeral Service
The funeral service celebrating the life of John Pugh was held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, 2019 at First Christian Church in Mattoon, Illinois with Pastor Steve Hayes officiating. The organist, Marsha Roetker played prelude and postlude selections and accompanied the vocalist, Laurie Olsen and the congregation in singing "The King of Love My Shepherd Is". Recorded selections of "Imagine" and "Myfanwy" were also played. John's daughter, Bronwen Lopez led the reading of his favorite poem by Sven Nader entitled "Going Home". John's cremated body will be returned to Cheshire, United Kingdom to St. Michael's Church cemetery to be inurned near other family members.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John E. Pugh, please visit our floral store.