John Michael "Mike" Lummis

1949- 2017

CAMP POINT, Ill. -- John Michael Lummis, 67, of Galesburg, died Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017, at his home.

He was born in Quincy on May 1, 1949, a son of John B. and Dorothy P. Akers Lummis. He married Marcia R. Leenerts
on March 23, 1968, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Golden, and she survives.

He attended Coatsburg Grade School and was a 1967 graduate of Central High School. He attended Central Missouri State University
and Quincy College and was a 1972 graduate of Indiana College of Mortuary Science in Indianapolis.

Mr. Lummis was a retired funeral director and insurance agent. He and his wife purchased the Ward Funeral Home in Pleasant Hill
in 1973. In 1979 they purchased the Gill Memorial Home in Barry, and in 1980 the Plattner Funeral Home in Pittsfield. In 1983
he contracted cancer and in 1986 sold his business to his brother Brad. In 1987 he joined the Farmers Insurance Group
and served as an agent first in Pleasant Hill and later (1990) in Galesburg. He retired due to ill health in February 2003.

Mr. Lummis was a combat veteran of the Vietnam War. He served in E Company 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry in the 4th Infantry
Division. He participated in the Cambodian Invasion and was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge and other awards.
He was discharged Dec. 27, 1970.

He held memberships in Galesburg American Legion Post 285 and had served as quartermaster for Galesburg VFW Post 2257,
Camp Point VFW Post 5410, National 4th Infantry Association, 22nd Infantry Regiment Society. He was a past master of
Pleasant Hill Lodge 565 AF&AM and was a member of Quincy Consistory.

He was confirmed in the Columbus United Methodist Church in 1961 by the Rev. Roy Doll. He was a longtime member
of Pleasant Hill U.M.C. where he served as treasurer, was chairman of the administrative council and was a certified lay speaker.
He was a member of Immanuel U.M.C. and Faith U.M.C. in Galesburg and served as 7th Ward alderman.

He was formerly active as a volunteer fireman and EMT in Pleasant Hill for many years and served as president of the
fire department board. He served on the board of the Citizen's State Bank in Pleasant Hill and was the secretary and vice president
of the Illini Community Hospital Board in Pittsfield. He served as an assistant Scoutmaster and was a district chairman
of the Saukee Area Council BSA.

He is also survived by three sons, John Todd (wife, Cheryl) of Mexico, Mo., Michael Brett (wife, Tambra) of Bloomington
and Jeffrey Scott (wife, Tauna) of Beardstown; a daughter, Heather Ellen who resides at home; eight grandchildren, John Shaw
and Andrew Todd, both of Mexico, Mo., Alexis Rae of Peoria, Michael Brett II and Adam Joseph, both of Voluntown, Conn.,
Brent (wife, Jessica) of Jacksonville, Katelyn of Jacksonville and Collin of Beardstown; three great-grandsons, Ryder, Carson
and Caden of Jacksonville, Ill.; two brothers, Mark B. (wife, Marlene) of Camp Point and J. Bradley (wife, Cheri) of Pleasant Hill;
and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

SERVICES: 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 17, at Lummis-Hamilton Funeral Home in Camp Point.
VISITATION: 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, at Watson-Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory in Galesburg.
Family will meet friends 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, at the Lummis-Hamilton Funeral Home, Camp Point.
MEMORIALS: Camp Callahan.
ARRANGEMENTS: Lummis-Hamilton Funeral Home in Camp Point.
Condolences may be expressed online at whig.com.

Mike Lummis - Firebase Niagara (LZ Niagara) Vietnam 1970
Sign reads:
4.2 REGULARS
WELCOME YOU TO
FIREBASE NIAGRA
2 MILLIMETERS
LARGER

GALESBURG — Mike Lummis, former Galesburg city alderman and leader in local veterans' programs, died Sunday
at age 67.

He served Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2257 as service officer and later as quartermaster.

"He was a wonderful human being," said former Mayor Gary Smith. "He was a patriot, active dad and grandfather
and community leader. He didn't hava a mean, cruel bone in his body. He was just a nice guy, and he will be
sorely missed. It's very sad.

Lummis was highly decorated for his service in Vietnam and battled cancer related to exposure to Agent Orange
while on active duty. He lost a leg to the cancer.

He served in E Company 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry in the 4th Infantry Division. He participated in the
Cambodian Invasion and was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge and other awards. He was discharged Dec. 27,
1970.

He also was a member of Galesburg American Legion Post 285, Camp Point VFW Post 5410, National 4th Infantry
Association and 22nd Infantry Regiment Society. He was a past master of Pleasant Hill Lodge 565 AF&AM and was
a member of the Quincy Consistory.

"Mike's major contribution to the post was when he became quartermaster in 2009. We were in terrible shape,"
former Post Commander Gerald Wright said. "We were looking at selling our building and trying to get out from
under it. He kept good books and cut our expenses by doing things differently. He did a lot of things that
made us more viable. He took us from having zero money to having a good bank account."

Once the post was stable he turned his attention to the James Stockdale Museum at the post and helped develop
it into a broad and enticing collection of military memorabilia.

Watson-Thomas Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements

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