LINCOLN - John Dee, 97, Springfield, formerly of Elkhart, died at 3:35 a.m. Wednesday (Jan. 10, 2007) at St. John's Hospice in Springfield.

He was born Aug. 20, 1909, in Elkhart, the son of Dennis and Anna Thomas Dee. He married Helen Hannahan on Jan. 6, 1932. She died in 2003.

Mr. Dee graduated from Elkhart High School in 1928. He was a retired farmer and a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Elkhart. He was a board member of Elkhart Grade School for 26 years.

He was preceded in death by one daughter, Mary Jane, and her husband, Pat O'Donnell.

Survivors include two sons, John Jr. "Jack" (wife, Mary, deceased), Springfield, and Jim (Carolyn), London, England; one brother, Maurice Dee, Elkhart; 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. at Kirlin-Egan and Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield, with a prayer service at 5:30 p.m. Additional visitation will be from 9 to 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 213 S. Bogardus St., Elkhart. His funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, with the Rev. Tom Shaw celebrant. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, Lincoln.

Memorials may be made to Cancer Research Institute, National Headquarters, 681 5th Ave., New York, N.Y. 10022-4209, or St. John's Hospital, Hospice Program, 800 E. Carpenter, Springfield, IL 62702.

Please visit the online obituary at www.butlerfuneralhomes.com .