John Lawrence Traser, 90, of LaHarpe, Illinois, passed away at 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at the Bickford Senior Living Center in Macomb, Illinois.

Born August 25, 1933, in LaHarpe, John was the fourth child of Lawrence and Anna (Kern) Traser.

After high school, John spent two years in the Navy as a gunner's mate on the destroyer, the U.S.S. Robert K. Huntington.  When he returned, he married Donna Peck on November 11, 1956, at the LaHarpe Christian Church.

Upon the conclusion of his military service, he worked at the Iowa Ordinance Plant before attending the Coyne Radio and Television trade school in Chicago, Illinois. He worked at Sullivan's TV and Appliance Store for roughly 10 years before finding permanent employment as an electrician at Western Illinois University (WIU) in Macomb. He retired from WIU in the spring of 1994 at the age of 60.  During his working years, he also sold real estate around LaHarpe and owned/operated the Triangle Car Wash with Donna, a laundromat/car wash also located in LaHarpe. John also served a number of years as a volunteer firefighter on the LaHarpe Fire Department and as a member of the LaHarpe Masonic Lodge.

John loved being outdoors and enjoyed camping, fishing, and traveling the country with Donna. He also cherished spending time with his family and friends and could be found tinkering with all things mechanical or electrical in his free time.

He is survived by his wife Donna of LaHarpe, to whom he was married for 67 years; two sons, Scott (Lynn) Traser of Macomb, and Shane (Erin) Traser of Rockford, Illinois; one daughter, Sheri (Mike) Traser-Schmalz of Muscatine, Iowa; and six grandchildren, including Kevin Traser of Macomb, Sarah Traser of Macomb, Courtney (Traser) Lloyd of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Dallas Traser of Loves Park, Illinois, Dominic Schmalz of Coralville, Iowa, and Camille (Schmalz) Poehlein of Spanaway, Washington.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings: Lyell Traser, Dorothy Roe and Martha Davis.

A graveside service will be held at the LaHarpe Cemetery on Tuesday, August 20, at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Bruce Goettsche officiating. Following the service, the family will receive friends at the Union Church in LaHarpe.

Banks & Beals Funeral Home is assisting the family. A memorial fund has been established for the Union Church. To leave an online condolence for the family, please visit John's obituary at banksandbeals.com.