John W. Shesler, Dds

John William Shesler, DDS, 95, died on Sunday, October 22, 2017 at Serenity Home. Born on January 6, 1922 in Sycamore, Illinois, the son of Dr. John Thomas and Adah (Kuhns) Shesler. He was valedictorian of the 1939 Genoa High School graduating class. He was a 1944 graduate from the University of Illinois, College of Dentistry with BS and DDS degrees. He served in the Army of the United States during WWII as a dental officer at various US Army Installations. He was discharged in 1947 with the rank of Captain after a tour of duty in Germany. He married Thelma M. Bailey in 1946 while stationed at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He was a Life member of American Dental Association, the Illinois State Dental Society and Fox Valley Dental Society. He was also a member and past President of the Elgin Dental Society, a charter member and past President of the Sherman Hospital Dental Staff. His private practice started in 1947 with his father, Dr. John T. Shesler, Elgin. In addition to private practice he was also a staff dentist at the Elgin State Hospital, and became the school dentist for the St. Charles Public Schools. During this time he did dental examinations and taught dental health to grades Kindergarten thru High School. He continued to teach dental health in the St. Charles Public Schools until his father’s death in 1961. He then devoted his full time to the private practice of General Dentistry in Elgin. He retired after 44 years of Dental Practice in December 1988. In 1993, John and Thelma moved to Rockford and became residents of Peterson Meadows.

He is survived by his three children, Beverly (Jerry) Manypenny of Osprey, FL, John Shesler of Sarasota, FL and Juanita (Jim) Barnes of Cherry Valley, IL; grandchildren, Jamie (Ryan) Spears and Jill (Tyler) Woodward; great-grandsons, Mason, Jameson and Tucker. Predeceased by his wife of 65 years, Thelma, his parents, sister, Patricia Henry and daughter-in-law, Vickie Shesler.

Funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 26, 2017, at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Road. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service on Thursday. Burial in Bluff City Cemetery, Elgin at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday. To express online condolences, please visit: www.fitzgeraldfh.com.