John W. "Jack" Ferris

John W. "Jack" Ferris, age 74, of Savanna, Illinois, died Monday, August 22, 2005 at the Mercy Medical Center-North in Clinton, Iowa. Funeral Services will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, August 25, 2005 at First United Methodist Church in Savanna. Burial will be in Lost Mound Cemetery in Rural Hanover, Illinois with Military Rites by the Savanna American Legion and Savanna Veterans of Foreign Wars. Friends may call from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 24, 2005 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home in Savanna. A Masonic Service will take place at 7:45 p.m. during the visitation. Memorials maybe made to the Family in Jack’s Name.
Jack was born March 17, 1931 in Savanna, Illinois the son of Charles and Nerrine (Coon) Ferris. Jack attended Savanna Schools, he graduated from Savanna High School Class of 1949. On August 21, 1955 Jack married Jean Mace in Savanna. Jack went to work for the Chicago-Milwaukee-St. Paul-Pacific Railroad from 1949 to 1951. He served in the National Guard Unit in Savanna. When activated in 1951, he entered active military service in Fort Benning, Georgia. After completing Light and Heavy Weapons Infantry Leaders School, he was transferred to Camp Cook, California. There he served as First Sergeant, training recruits in basic infantry tactics. After his Honorable Discharge, Jack attended and graduated from Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois in 1957.. Jack taught school at St. Clair Shores, Michigan, also served as head coach, football, and assistant coach of basketball and baseball 1957 – 1958. In 1958 Jack and Jean returned to Savanna where he taught and coached at Chestnut Park School.

Jack played softball for several years in Savanna and sponsored a bowling team. He entered the automobile business in 1959 and became owner and operator of Ferris Motors, with Chrysler, Plymouth, Honda and Jeep dealerships in Savanna for fifteen years, and the Ford dealership, which he sold after five years. Jack went to work for the Quad City Nuclear Power Station in 1980-1982. Jack continued working as an Automobile Sales Consultant until retirement in 1998.

Jack served as President of the Savanna Chamber of Commerce in 1977, Commissioner, Secretary and Treasurer of Carroll County Housing Authority from 1968-1980. He was an Appointed Counselor for Carroll County Probation Department from 1967-1972.

Jack enjoyed being the Master of Ceremonies for many city and county functions. He was inducted into the "Shoot the Bull" Sports Hall of Fame in 1994.

Jack was a member of the Mississippi Flyway Club Savanna; the Mississippi Masonic Lodge # 385; the Freeport Consistory; the Tabala Shrine; the American Legion Post # 148; the First United Methodist Church in Savanna and Lifetime member of the National Rifle Association.

Jack enjoyed drag racing the Ferris Motors Plymouth Hemi in the mid 1960’s, hunting, fishing, trapshooting, playing golf, traveling, reading and crossword puzzles. But, most of all he greatly enjoyed his family and friends.

Jack is survived by his loving wife, Jean; one daughter, Kathryn (Carter) Lowry of Huddleston, Virginia; one granddaughter, Courtney Lowery and step-grandchildren, Mitch, Kristi, Michelle and Christopher; four brothers, Charles "Al" (Donna) Ferris of Savanna; Elmer "Gene" (JoAnne) Ferris of Chadwick, Illinois, Cliff (Sue) Ferris of Savanna and Larry (Carol) Ferris of Savanna. Jack was preceded in death by his parents.