John Truitt Jr's Obituary
After a sudden, brief illness, John Edward Truitt Jr., 59, of Shobonier, IL passed away peacefully on Wednesday morning, April 10, 2024 at 12:27 AM at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO; he was surrounded by the family he cherished.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, April 13, 2024 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Vandalia with Pastor Brett Cornelius officiating and Joe Conger delivering the eulogy. Visitation will be held from 1:00-2:00 PM prior to the service at the church. Per John’s wishes cremation rites will be accorded. A Celebration of Life will follow the church service at the Truitt Residence near Shobonier. In lieu of flowers and gifts, the family would love for donations to be made to the National Kidney Foundation (www.kidney.org). Online condolences can be expressed at www.hohltandfilefh.com
John was born into a Navy family on October 7, 1964 in Saratoga Springs, New York; the son of John E Truitt Sr. and Marilyn (Meseke) Truitt. The Truitt family moved around several times, finally settling in Brimfield, IL when John was in junior high. Throughout his teenage years he would form many lifelong friendships; most notably, his two best friends, Jesse Jones and Sean Wells.
After graduating high school in 1982, he tried several different careers that took him to different cities and states; finally settling on the gaming industry. John started in Peoria, IL as a craps dealer. He then decided to move to Biloxi, MS, and then to Tunica, MS; all while being promoted to several different supervisory positions. John eventually moved to the Shreveport/Bossier City area to work at Binion’s Horseshoe Casino in 1994; where he started out supervising craps games by sitting box. Here he met the love of his life, Gina Lee Henderson. After dating a few years, they married on February 4, 1997 in Las Vegas, NV at the Chapel of Love.
Over the next 27 years they built a beautiful life and family. John and Gina welcomed their son, Jacob Evan in 2000, and daughter, Grace Lynn in 2003. Along life’s journey John found out he had another daughter, Shea Lee Garrison; Shea was seven years old when they first got to meet in person. Even though Shea was not raised in their household she was still a major part of their lives and a great big sister to Jacob and Grace.
John left the casino gaming industry in 2007 and he and his family moved to Shobonier, IL, where he built a home from the ground up. In 2009, he and his wife Gina bought the Depot when it was just a shell of a building, again, John doing most of the building himself as he had a great attention to detail. The grand reopening of the Depot was in March of 2010; sadly, in November of the same year a tragic fire claimed the establishment. In 2013, he went to work driving a semi for TMC, shortly thereafter starting his own trucking company, Truitt Farms Trucking, LLC.
John suffered total kidney failure in March 2019, requiring a kidney transplant. Miraculously, his wife Gina, was a match and was able to give him one of her kidneys in December 2019. He was determined to make a full recovery. Because of his compromised immune system due to the transplant, he did have a few setbacks, but always overcame them, and refused to let that define him. In July 2023 he was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, skin cancer, that started on his right wrist. He tackled that head on with chemo and continued to work. Unfortunately, it became metastatic spreading to his lymph nodes and his lungs. John fought for his health for five years, VALIANTLY! He didn’t get the chance to fight his latest cancer diagnosis due to the rapid onset of an unrelated illness. After spending seven weeks in the hospital, the last two being in the ICU, with Gina never leaving his side, he couldn’t fight any longer. John was a very proud and private person who fought his battles quietly along with his wife and children.
The most important thing to John was his family. His favorite place to be was at home with them, riding one of his tractors, or out riding his 81-Shovelhead that he built from the ground up. John was strong, smart, quick-witted and had a wicked sense of humor.
He will be forever missed by so many people that loved him. Anyone who worked for him, respected him because he respected them. Anyone who met him became his friend. He was the best protector and provider for his family. He was honest with a huge heart, and always knew the right thing to say in any situation. He was always cool and levelheaded. He was the backbone of his family.
He will especially be missed by his wife/partner/best friend and confidant. Anyone who met the two of them, knew immediately they had a very special and rare connection; John and Gina were always a package deal. Their love never wavered after all the triumphs and tribulations they shared over the last 30 years.
John is survived by his true love, Gina Truitt of Shobonier formerly of Shreveport, LA; mother, Marilyn Truitt of Shobonier; son, Jacob Truitt and girlfriend Emily Burns of Shobonier; daughters, Shea Garrison of Bowling Green, KY and Grace Truitt and boyfriend John Velazquez of Terre Haute, IN; brothers, Michael Truitt and wife Brandy of St. Elmo and Jason Truitt of Bossier, LA; one grandson, Wyatt Cranford of Bowling Green, KY; and many extended family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, John Truitt Sr; grandparents, Filbert and Dorothy Meseke; aunt, Mary Truitt; and uncle, Dr. Bill Truitt.
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