George A. Westjohn (76) of Effingham

George A. Westjohn, 76, of Effingham died Wednesday, February 19, 2020 in Florida.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, February 28, 2020 at Sacred Heart Church in Effingham with burial in St. Anthony Cemetery with military rites. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday evening at the church.  Memorials can be made to MyMemoryWorx Fund (Parkinson's) or Sacred Heart School.

George was born in Sigel, IL, on May 28, 1943, to Sylvester and Cecilia (Deters) Westjohn. 

George attended Teutopolis Community High School and was married to his high school sweetheart, Beverly Ruholl, of Lillyville, over 53 years. George always said, “You can take the girl out of Lillyville, but you can’t take Lillyville out of the girl.”  George was a military veteran who served his country as a platoon sergeant in the National Guard. After high school, George applied for a job as a “music store trainee” at Samuel’s Music Company and went on to oversee its expansion into the wholesale music business with Midco International.  As a music instrument importer, George traveled the world and was a respected member of the National Association of Music Merchants and the Music Distributors Association, for which he served as president.  

George was a hard-working and devoted member of the Effingham community and Sacred Heart Catholic Church.  He was the charter president of Effingham Sunrise Rotary and served on the boards of Heartland Human Services and Effingham Country Club.  George was a member of the Knights of Columbus and American Legion, for which he participated in military funerals.  At Sacred Heart, George was a trustee and finance council member in addition to other roles, e.g., choir member, altar server, and Eucharistic minister.

When he was not working hard, George was playing hard on the golf course at Effingham Country Club or at their winter home at Sun N’ Lake Country Club in Sebring, FL. George was a diehard sports fan; he never missed a game played by the St. Louis Cardinals, Fighting Illini, or Chicago Bears.  

George is survived by his wife, Beverly (Ruholl), his sons, Yale (Lara) of Tuscola, IL, and Stan (Beth) of Tuscaloosa, AL, and daughter, Sara (Jeff) Johnson of Burr Ridge, IL. George’s grandchildren are Cameron (Alanna), Cassie, Ford, Max, Miles, and Oliver.  He is also survived by his sister, Rita (Bob) Deters, brother, Robert (Joyce) Westjohn, Bev’s three sisters Mary Althoff, Betty (John) Fearday, Gin (Fran) Gardewine, and numerous nieces and nephews.  George was preceded in death by his parents, Sylvester and Cecilia Westjohn, and brother, Kenneth Westjohn and his wife Linda, and brother-in-law Bill Althoff.

Arrangements are in care of Bauer Funeral Home in Effingham.