John L. Fitzgerald

Monday, May 11, 2015 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Waters Funeral Chapel.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Waters Funeral Chapel.
Officiating: Rev. Bob Hoehn.
Music: Sharon Hoehn - pianist.
Interment: Vandalia Cemetery.
Pallbearers: Ryan Fitzgerald, Aaron Fitzgerald, Dean Arnett, Josh Sebolt, Alan Jarvis and Neil Jarvis.

John L. Fitzgerald Jr. passed away at 12:25 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, 2015 at the Missouri VA Home in Mexico. He was a 1939 graduate of Vandalia High School, and, in 1940, enlisted in the U. S. Army. John fought during World War II in the Moroccan, Tunisian, Sicilian and Italian Campaigns. He received five Bronze Stars and was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received at the Battle of Anzio, Italy in 1944. He was a Tech Sergeant serving as a platoon sergeant in the 15th Infantry. After returning from the war, John worked at Weiser Drug in Vandalia until purchasing the store from Vernie Weiser in 1972; he later changed the name to Vandalia Drug. Several years later, he and Hal Clinton of Rexall Drug joined forces at Vandalia Drug Store in a partnership. John and Hal sold the drug store to Joe Salois in 1995. John also enjoyed riding motorcycles and made trips to the state of Washington, the Great Smoky Mountains, Canada and shorter trips. He loved his children and really enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Born: December 17, 1921 in Indianola, Iowa the son of John Law and Edith Mae (Hershey) Fitzgerald.

Married: Dorothy Jane Wanstreet in Warrenton, Missouri on February 4, 1945; she preceded him in death on November 18, 2008.

Survivors include: two sons: Mike and wife, Janelle of Lake Winnebago and Pat and wife, Barbara of Columbia; one daughter, Molly and husband, Dean Arnett of Springdale, Arkansas; one sister, Alice Wright of Escondido, Calif.; two grandsons: Ryan Fitzgerald of Kansas City and Aaron and wife, Jessica Fitzgerald of Lake Winnebago; three granddaughters: Allyson and husband, Josh Sebolt of Lee's Summit; Sarah and Alexis Arnett of Springdale, Arkansas; two great-grandsons: Timothy and Silas Sebolt and two great-granddaughters: Joanna Sebolt and Ellie Jane Fitzgerald. Dad, Grandpa and Great-Grandpa will be dearly missed.

Preceded in death by: parents and beloved wife, Jane.

Memorials are encouraged to the First Baptist Church of Vandalia or the National Parkinson Foundation.