John W. “Jack” Cheatham, 89, of O’Fallon, IL, born on April 7, 1935, in Kansas City, KS, passed away on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at Bradford Place in Swansea, IL.
Jack was a Retired MSGT from the US Air Force in the Air Weather Service. From there, he went on to work for the US Government Civil Service in contracting. When Jack finally retired from the government, he went on to work as an usher for the St. Louis Cardinals’ stadium.
After Jack graduated from Wyandotte High School in Kansas City, he continued his education with a BA in Business at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Jack was also a member of the local American Legion and Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed golfing, bowling, and loved to wash his car. Jack would go out for coffee every morning, frequenting Schnucks regularly, and would have a cup with anyone. Jack also umpired for several years for local teams.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Lee Andrew and Margaret Elizabeth Cheatham (nee Johnson); his son, Anthony Yurkovich; his sister, Norma Cheatham.
Jack is survived by his beloved wife, Carol Ann Cheatham (nee Sutter); two children, Cynthia (David) Frost of O’Fallon, IL, Tim (Aimee) Yurkovich of O’Fallon, IL; four grandchildren, Meaghan Krukemeier, Thomas Frost, Kaitlyn Yurkovich, Michael Yurkovich; two great grandchildren, Camden Krukemeier, Andrea Krukemeier.
Memorials may be made in Jack’s honor to Shriner’s Hospital for Children; https://donate.lovetotherescue.org/, or St. Jude’s Hospital for Children; https://www.stjude.org/. Condolences may be extended to the family online at www.schildknechtfh.com.
A visitation will take place on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, from 4:00 – 7:00 PM., at Schildknecht Funeral Home; 301 S. Lincoln Ave. O’Fallon, IL 62269.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at 10:00 AM, at St. Nicholas Catholic Church; 625 St. Nicholas Dr., O’Fallon, IL 62269, with Fr. Nick Junker officiating. Burial will follow at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery with full military honors.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Schildknecht Funeral Home.
