John T. Cherry

John Thomas Cherry passed away peacefully into the arms of Jesus on October 20, 2024, at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale, Illinois, after a two-week stay resulting from a fall. 

John was born on May 6, 1931, in Carbondale to Luther and Evelyn (Mathis) Cherry. He married his sweetheart, Aveniel Arensman, on December 6, 1953, in Metropolis. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary last year at the Landings where they moved in 2018. 

John was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church where he served in many roles for over 50 years. He was also a faithful attender of Victory Dream Center. He introduced the Fellowship of Christian Athletes to Southern Illinois and later served on its Illinois State Board.

Basketball was always more than a game in John’s life. Upon graduating from Vienna High School, John accepted a basketball scholarship to the University of Alabama where he lettered before transferring to and starting as guard at SIUC in 1952-1953. He received degrees from SIUC in business administration and physical education.

He served as a finance officer at Beale Air Force Base in California and loved serving as the player/coach of the basketball team on the Base. John taught and coached at CCHS. In 1967 the basketball team won second place in the State Tournament. He spent most of his career as Owner/Manager of Jamestown Management Corporation. After reaching retirement age, he loved coaching his grandsons’ teams at Trinity High School. He was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame as well as that of Carbondale Community High School. 

John was very active in community service through organizations including the Carbondale United Way, Carbondale Business Development Board, CCHS Education Foundation, Unity Point School Board, and SIU Athletic Department. He was involved with many organizations fostering improved race relations in Carbondale. As the basketball coach at CCHS when, in 1964, the Attucks High School was integrated into CCHS, he successfully blended the two teams into one. He cherished many memories of the relationships with the in-coming players, and their parents, and many of these relationships remain to this day. In 2013, he received the annual Martin Luther King, Jr, Service Award. He worked diligently to help bring a Boys and Girls Club of America to Carbondale. He also served as co-chair of the Capital Campaign to develop a new Women’s Center in Carbondale.

John loved all sports and scout activities; he became an Eagle scout as a young teenager. He loved God's world of nature in which he fished, worked, played, and hunted with his beloved family members. He was a devoted Christian, husband, father, and grandfather. He committed his life to Christ at the age of 19 and passionately sought to see his children and grandchildren to know Jesus as well.

He is survived by his wife, Aveniel, two children, Diane (Bob) Davis and Doug (Lisa) Cherry both of Carbondale; as well as 12 grandchildren [Brian (Carrie) Davis, Michelle (Cory) Mohr, Nathan (Tara) Cherry, Kalyn (Adam) Waller, Lucas (Rachel) Cherry, Rebekah (Loren) Conbeer, Hannah (Seth) Erickson, Micah (Danae) Cherry, Matthew (Olivia) Cherry, Ethan (Eva) Cherry, Lydia Cherry and Josiah Cherry]. He and Aveniel have been blessed with 26 precious great grandchildren from ages 1 to 17. Other surviving members include his sister-in-law, Marilyn Cherry, and many cousins, nephews, and nieces.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 24, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Meredith Funeral Home. A Celebration of life service will take place on Friday, October 25, at 12 noon, at the First United Methodist Church in Carbondale with a visitation from 10:30 a.m. until the start of service. 

The preferred forms of remembrance are memorial gifts to the Victory Dream Center (victorydreamcenter.org) and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (southernillinoisfca.org).

Meredith Funeral Home in Carbondale is in charge of arrangements. To leave a story or memory of John, visit www.meredithfh.com