John Lawless Obituary

John Fulton Lawless, of Palm Coast, FL passed away peacefully on September 23, 2025. The eighth of twelve children, he was born on April 22, 1935 in Pontiac, IL to James W. and Alma (nee Fulton) Lawless.
John graduated from Melvin-Sibley High School, where he was president of his senior class, participating in baseball, basketball, and cross country. He attended Western Illinois University where he played baseball and ran for their cross country track team. A true fitness buff, he was an outstanding baseball player for area teams. He was a long-distance runner for most of his life.
A proud veteran, Mr. Lawless served in the army on the DMZ. overlooking Communist North Korea for 16 months as the regimental Catholic Chaplin's Assistant. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Illinois State University and Master's Degree from Southern Illinois University in Agricultural Economics.
He retired from the Farmers Home Administration of the United States Department of Agriculture after 28 years of service and owned and operated a 600 acre gain and livestock farm. Mr. Lawless also taught at a community college in Arkansas and at a high school in Clifton, Illinois.
In 1991, he moved to Florida and owned and operated a furniture business, then was in the newspaper business in sales. Mr. Lawless was also a columnist for a weekly newspaper in Sumner, Illinois.
He was married to Donna Whipkey Vowells, who survives. and was the father of John Matthew Lawless (Kristine) and Michelle Lawless Wagner (Anthony). He is also survived by four grandchildren, Hannah Lawless, Jay Wagner, Lucas Lawless, and Jacob Lawless. Mr. Lawless is also survived by brothers Jerome and Daniel Lawless, sisters Alma Lemme, Theresa Kerber Roland, and Sister Aurelia Wurmnest, and approximately 150 nephews, nieces, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Joseph, Richard, James and Patrick, and sisters Mary Wurmnest and Veronica Hubley.
A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church located at 405 North 5th Street, Chatsworth, IL 60921. Visitation time starts at 10:00am and the funeral mass will begin promptly at 11:00am. Immediately following the service, a repass luncheon will be hosted in the church hall. Heritage Funeral and Cremation Service of Bunnell, FL assisted the family with arrangements. www.HeritageFlagler.com