Mr. John Leon Dismuke, Jr.

August 15, 1954 - July 21, 2020

Our beloved, John Leon Dismuke, Jr., of Peoria, IL passed away Tuesday, July 21, 2020, at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. John was born on August 15, 1954 to Johnnie, Sr. Leon and Barbara (Ellis) Dismuke. While growing up in "The Heights," he attended Hines Grade School. Following Hines, he attended Richwoods High School, where he both participated and lettered in various sports, including track, baseball, and football. John was named the Athlete of the Year his senior year. He was part of the 1971-1972 team inducted as part of the 1997 Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame class. Once graduating high school, John enrolled at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL. At SIU, he excelled in football and became a proud member of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. As an Engineer, he enjoyed close to 40 years of employment at Caterpillar, Inc., before retiring in 2018 as a Six Sigma IT Manager. Throughout the years, John developed an unwavering passion for playing tennis and was a member of both the Peoria Tennis Association and the USTA, competing throughout the Midwest. John truly enjoyed traveling and spending quality time with his family. John always embodied a great deal of confidence and intelligence and had an avid interest in all the latest technologies. He was a big-picture thinker, gave great advice, had a keen sense of humor, always found the best prices, and loved showing off his grill-master skills. He was dearly loved and respected by all who knew him. He is survived by a loving wife, Solivian (Furness) Dismuke; his mother, Barbara Dismuke; sons, Brett Dismuke, Jarel (Catherine) Dismuke, and Dana Allen; daughters, Janise Dismuke, Mariah Smith, and Mikayla Russell; siblings, Cheryl Dismuke, Carmen Dismuke, Mark (Annette) Dismuke, Brett (Chatocka) Dismuke, and Andrew Dismuke; two grandsons, Donovan and Levi; granddaughter, Madison; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends who adored him. John is preceded in death by his wife, LeVera (Dudley) Dismuke and his father, Johnnie Dismuke, Sr. He is also preceded in death by his two closest friends, Jerome Lilly and Kenley Wade. In lieu of flowers, designate memorials c/o the Peoria Public Schools Foundation for an athletic scholarship at Richwoods High School in his memory. Donate through the website: www.ppsfoundation.org or mailed to: 5901 N. Prospect Rd. Ste. 14E, Peoria, IL 61614 Private funeral services will be held at 12 noon, Thursday, July 30, 2020 at Victory Christian Church. Visitation 10 am - 11:30 am. Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Pinning Ceremony at 11:30 am to 12 noon. Senior Pastor of St. Paul Baptist Church, Deveraux Hubbard, will officiate. Face masks are required for all attendees. The funeral service will be live-streamed on Simons Mortuary's Website or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Simons-Mortuary-232095303487150 promptly at the time of the service. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, social distancing and attendance limits will be observed. Simons Mortuary has been entrusted with arrangements. Online condolences may be made at SimonsMortuary.com. As the States begin re-opening in response to the Global Coronavirus Pandemic, some people are returning to their previous normal living standards. Unfortunately, we are now in our new normal as unreal and sometimes uncomfortable as the socially distancing and continuous use of protective masks may feel. *In an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, we ask that everyone in attendance: wear a face mask and refrain from hugging, kissing and shaking hands (as hard as it is to see someone you care about and not touch them). Thanks in advance for your cooperation! *It is our responsibility as a Funeral Directors, to do everything we can to advise families in order to honor our beloved Families and to keep everyone as safe as possible. The sanctuary can socially distance and seat a limit of 50 or less people. All others will be able to flow through and view prior to beginning the Celebration of Life Ceremony.