If you knew John Becker, you knew you were in for a conversation. He loved to talk, loved to laugh, and could turn a quick question about a part into a master class on ten other things. John (64), a lifelong resident of Shannon, Illinois, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, surrounded by love and at peace in his faith that he was bound for his forever home in heaven.

John grew up on the family farm in Shannon and went on to raise his own family on that very same land — the place that was always closest to his heart. He was happiest there, whether it was on a tractor or tinkering on a project. Today the farm carries on in the family, where his son Josh lives with his wife Brittany and their children, Jace, Finley, and Sadie.

He had a mechanic's hands and an engineer's mind. After honing his skills at Al's in Shannon and Zedco in Freeport, John gave 38 years to Woods (now Oregon Tool), where he became the person everyone trusted — for know-how, for fixing what was broken, for training the next person coming up, and for tightening things well past sensible ("Becker tight," as it came to be known). He also ran a successful dealership, a welding business, and a storage unit, and served as a trusted resource in the community.

But the role John wore most proudly was Dad and Grandpa. He never missed a game, track meet or competition. He was the first call for anything — car trouble, a work decision, or just figuring out life. He passed on so many wonderful things to his children: a strong work ethic, a family-firstmentality, and his steadfast belief that you simply can't take life too seriously. Every moment had the opportunity to be a teachable moment, whether it was how to fix something with your hands or how to be a good human.  He cherished every minute with his grandkids.  Distance never slowed him down — he and Linda made the trip to Nashville to see his daughter, Ashley, Tyler, and his granddaughters, Hadley and Ellie as often as he possibly could. Josh and Ashley were lucky beyond measure to have had him for as long as they did.

John loved speed in all its forms — fast cars, snowmobiles, and motorcycles.  He loved to hunt, and treasured the recent days he spent starting to teach his grandson Jace the ropes. He was funny, a great listener, a keeper of an endless wealth of knowledge, and a man who could fix just about anything.

John and his wife Linda married in November 2025 after 14 years of adventures together, and the two made the most of their time together. They loved riding motorcycles, flying around in Linda's Corvette, and above all spending time with the kids and grandkids. John became a steady presence in the lives of Linda's family — showing up, lending support, and spending time with her daughters Nicole (Cory) and Jenna (Mike) and grandchildren Weston, Eli, Owen, and Cal.  They shared their home with their dog, Cole, who is loved, thoroughly spoiled, and remains a source of comfort to Linda today. John held a strong faith and worshiped at the Bolton Community Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Maurice and Helen Becker. He leaves behind his wife, Linda; his daughter, Ashley (Tyler) and granddaughters Hadley and Ellie; his son, Josh (Brittany) and grandchildren Jace, Finley, and Sadie; his siblings, Carol, Daryl, and Jane; his faithful dog, Cole; and countless friends and neighbors whose lives were richer for knowing him. John will be deeply missed.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be established by his family to be used for causes closest to his heart.