John H. Staub, Sr.

John H. Staub, Sr., age 92, of Fairview Heights, IL, born on July 15, 1933, in Hanover, PA, passed away on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at Belleville Memorial Hospital surrounded by his wife and children.

John was a 1951 graduate of Delone Catholic High School in McSherrystown, PA.  He served in the US Army and was a Korean War veteran.  In his early 20s, John moved to Washington, D.C.  He resided in the DC metropolitan area (Maryland/Virginia) until 1983.  After several years living in Lubbock, TX and Tampa, FL, John moved to Illinois in 1989 where he resided ever since.

John retired from American Airlines in 1996 after 31 years as a ground service crew chief.  A huge St. Louis Cardinals fan, John served as an usher for the Cardinals at Busch Stadium for 11 years after retirement.

John was a man of great faith and an active member in his church, Grace Church.  He valued his faith and family above anything else.  He was a 13 year pancreatic cancer survivor which he proudly celebrated each year by participating in the PanCan PurpleStride St. Louis walk.  John had a lifelong love of bowling, likely in part to meeting his wife in a bowling alley.  He continued bowling until he was 90 and was proud of his accomplishment of bowling a perfect 300 game.

John was a lifelong member of the Amvets, a past member of the Lions club, a Board of Directors member of the former Greater St. Louis Bowling Association, and a member of the Belleville/Swansea Moose Lodge.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Urban F. and Cora E.(nee Becker) Staub; siblings Loretta (John) Livelsberger, Robert (Hilda) Staub, Beatrice (Francis) Neiderer, James (Jean) Staub, Mary (Francis) Topper, Doris (Herbert) Leonard, Joseph (Doris) Staub, Mark (Louise) Staub, father-in-law Lawrence Shirley, mother-in-law Frances (nee Murphy) Shirley, brother-in-law Steve (Patricia) Shirley, and sisters-in-law Nancy Staub, Agnes Staub, Darlene Allender, and Joan Staub; and family by marriage, Rose Nersesian.

He is survived by his beloved wife of more than 60 years, Esther (nee Shirley) Staub, a son, John H. (Wendy) Staub, Jr., of North Port, FL, a daughter, Michelle (Paul) Nersesian of Swansea, IL, grandchildren, Brittany (Luis) Batista, Jenna (Justin) Russell, Erica Staub, Steven Staub, Kylie Staub and Olivia Nersesian, great granddaughter Eliana Batista, brothers Urban Staub, of McSherrystown, PA and William Staub, of Hanover, PA, many loving nieces and nephews, family by marriage Doreen (nee Nersesian) and Mars Eghigian, Jr., bonus granddaughter Diana Mkrtchyan, and many family friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in John’s name to Grace Church, Fairview Heights or PanCan PurpleStride St. Louis.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 23, 2025, from 3:00pm to 7:00pm at Kassly Mortuary, Ltd., Fairview Heights, IL. 

Visitation will also be held on Monday, November 24, 2025, from 9:00am to 10:00am at Grace Church, 5151 N. Illinois Street, Fairview Heights, IL. 

Funeral Service will be held on Monday, November 24, 2025, at 10:00am at Grace Church with Rev. Ben Godard and Dr. Phil Silsby officiating.  Interment will be held in Jefferson Barracks Cemetery, St. Louis, MO on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, with full military honors.

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