John D. Hawkins, 71, of Newman died at 3:05 p.m. on Wednesday, June 30, 2021 at Carle Foundation Hospital.
John was born on November 24, 1949 in Paris, IL to John and Jeanne (Roberts) Hawkins. He married Mary Mulcahey on August 8, 1970 in Bongard.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Hawkins; one son, John (Sara) Hawkins; three grandchildren, Charlotte, Amelia, and Grant; three siblings, Sam (Teresa) Hawkins, Zala (Eric) Swigart, and Glen (Cindy) Hawkins; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Beth, and a grandson.
When John was 45, he was diagnosed with a benign tumor compressing the spinal cord and was paralyzed from the chest down after its removal. Initially it was felt that he would not walk again, but with uncompromising willpower, stubbornness, and true grit, John walked many years afterwards with forearm crutches. Carle Physical Medicine and Rehab Department wholeheartedly assisted John in reaching his goals. They were always a phone call away, they never let him down. They followed him from age 45 till the end. John did not allow his disability to keep him from farming and driving his red Chevy truck.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 2, 2021 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Villa Grove with Father Aloysius Ndeanaefo officiating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Bongard. A visitation will be held an hour prior to Funeral Mass (9 – 10 a.m.) at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Newman fire department and first responders, or the St. Joseph Cemetery in Bongard.
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