John Porter Howard II, 81 of Metropolis, IL, formerly of Catoosa, OK, passed away on Wednesday, November 27, 2024 at Baptist Health Paducah.

Funeral services will be held at 12 noon on Monday, December 2, 2024 at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Metropolis with Rev. Timothy A. Bean officiating. For those unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed from the church's Facebook page, St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, NALC. Burial will follow in Metropolis Memorial Gardens with military rites.

John was a life member of New Columbia Masonic Lodge 336 and a mason for over 50 years. He was a life member of the Tulsa Scottish Rites and was Director General of Akdar Shrine in Tulsa, OK. John was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church where he served as lector and a member of the council. He retired from Allied Chemical working in Production and Maintenance after over 40 years and then worked at and retired from Advanced Research Chemicals after 15 years. He was a very proud Marine veteran and enjoyed fishing, tying crappie jigs, shooting guns with his boys and watching the grandkid's ballgames. John was very family-focused. He loved his kids and grandkids, doted on his mother-in-law, Dorothy and liked to tease his brother-in-law, Jimmy. John is going to be sorely missed by all that loved him.

John is survived by his wife of 25 years, Bonnie; sons, John Patrick Howard (Tana) and Jeremy Dale Shafer (Staci); daughter-in-law, Jamie Shafer; grandchildren, Josh Howard, Emma Howard, Lauren Bugg (Patrick), Matt Dudley (Jennifer), Christina Douglas (Cambell), Maci Bynam, Penni Bynam, Seth Shafer, and Allison Shafer; two great grandchildren on the way; mother-in-law, Dorothy Farris; sisters-in-law, Wanda Johnson and husband Terry and their family and Shirley Shelton and husband Jimmy and their family; several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John Porter and Mary (Allsman) Howard; two sons, Jeffrey Scott Shafer and Andrew Garrett Shafer; brother, James Howard; and father-in-law, Marshall Farris.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until 12 noon on Monday, December 2nd at the St. Paul's Lutheran Church with masonic rites at 11:45 a.m.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be given in John's name to St. Paul's Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 520 Ferry Street, Metropolis, IL, 62960. Online condolences may be left at www.aikinsfarmer-millerfh.com.

Arrangements are entrusted to Aikins-Farmer-Loftus-McManus Funeral Home.

St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church
520 Ferry Street, Metropolis IL 62960
Tel: 1-618-524-8361
Web: http://www.stpaullutheranmetropolis.com/