John Michael St. John (Mike, Mr. Mike) was born January 14,1945 in Belleville, IL.
Born to his father, John, Logan St. John, and his mother, Viola Mae St. John, Mike was the second of six kids born to the Illinois- based St. Johns.
Mike refined his view of the cosmos from central Illinois. He played basketball, baseball, and track at local and state levels.
He also loved music and played bass guitar in a band called the Acoustics. He and his brothers and sisters enjoyed picnics, car camping, stargazing, storytelling, and exploring the world as they laughed big-belly laughs together.
Mike was a lifelong learner. He attended Western Illinois University for three years and then completed his BS in General Studies from the University of South Carolina. Later in life, he completed his Master’s in Interpersonal Communications at the American University in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
Mike married his high school sweetheart, Sherry King, in 1967, and together they had a daughter, Trista St. John. As his first marriage ended, he was drafted and then joined the US Army in 1967. He was introduced to Ada A. Windham (Amy) by Margaret Nash. A fast courtship and proposal followed, and Mike and Amy were married on December 5, 1970, and together they had two children, John and David.
Mike spent 22 years in the US Army and he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) and combat veteran of Vietnam. He and his family travelled the U.S and the world with the Army, Mike and Amy moved to Washington state where he worked for 17 years at the Cubic (a defense contractor). Mike and Amy waltzed into retirement together and decided to move to Port St. Joe, FL.
Mike did not share any advice for those of you reading this, but his life might be the best advice to share: he was a country boy with an unending curiosity, he loved listening to and making music, he was drafted but joined up, he divorced and found love again, he broke many bones (Many different times) but healed, he loved his wife, kids, family, friends, neighbors, and perfect strangers, he loved this country and its flag, he was afraid of heights and learned to fly planes and helicopters, he tried to help everyone he could, he brought a sense of humor, and security to so many, and while it was cancer at the end, he lived with purpose, love, humor, and compassion from the beginning.
Mike loved Jesus, prayed, and grew close to the teachings of the Bible in his later years. He left this world with a settled spirit and a love for a life well-lived. Mike lived his last few days at the Clifford Chester Sims Veteran’s Nursing Home alongside his fellow veterans and with Amy at his side. He died peacefully as the sun set on Panama City, FL, May 17, 2025.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents, John L. St. John, Viola M. St. John, as well as his sister, Cindy L. St John. He is survived by: his sister Diana (Howard) Kreps (Colchester); his brother Steve (Deborah) St. John (Satellite Beach, FL) ; his sister Lisa Beck (Greg) (Colchester); his brother Patrick (Gina) St.
John (Colchester); his many nieces, nephews, and cousins; his wife Amy St. John (PSJ); his daughter Trista St. John (Eureka, CA) and his granddaughter Sophia (Fort Collins, CO) and husband Jacob Yastrow and great grandson Maize Michael, his son John E. (Jacksonville, FL) and wife Suzanne St. John and his grandson John Luke; and his son David M (WA) and wife Tanya St. John, and his grandchildren: Kinsey and Langston.
US Army Medals received: Bronze Star; Air Medal 1-10; Meritorious Service Medal 1-30LC; Army Commendation Medal; Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal 1-5; Armed forces Reserve Medal; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon 2; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; 2 Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citations with Palm; Senior Aviation Badge; Overseas Bar. Boeing Rescue award, 1975 Korea. Mike spent 22 years in the US Army and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Graveside services will be held 2:00 P.M Saturday, July 12, 2025, at Hutchinson Cemetery, with Rev. Jim Clayton. Military services will be conducted at the grave by the Macomb V.F.W, and Macomb American Legion. The family will be hosting a celebration of life reception at the Macomb American Legion following the services. Memorial is to Hutchinson Cemetery.
Condolences and memories can be expressed to the family at jonesmortuaryfh.com.
