John L Holmes

John L Holmes was born on March 29, 1951, the oldest son of Luther and Kathryn Holmes. He had three siblings: Jack, Jeff and Sheila. He grew up in Newman, IL where he lived his entire life. Childhood stories he told included many life long friends and memories of HS football and Pig Turd Alley. He married Laurie Sumption on January 9, 1971. They were high school sweethearts. He worked at the Tuscola rock quarry, Zeigler Coal Mine and Gill Athletics. He enjoyed Hunting and Fishing and could be found cooking up a great breakfast at the Hawk’s Nest during deer camp. He was a father to Samantha and Jill and a grandfather to Mason, Tyler and Mara. Later in life he was diagnosed with Black Lung Disease and in 2016 was the recipient of a new lung thanks to the team and Northwester Hospital in Chicago and the Gift of Hope organization. That lung gave him seven more quality years to live his family and watch his grandchildren grow into their teen and adult years.