CHRISTOPHER – On Thursday, May 15, at 8:30 p.m., Jeffry “Jeff” Presutti Sr., age 70, of Christopher, IL, went home to meet our Heavenly Father.
He retired in 2016 from being a commercial pump mechanic which took him all over the country working for nearly two decades. Before that, he worked and lived in Ellensville, NY, and Deltona, FL, as a supervisor for an aluminum extrusion and manufacturing company.
Jeff was an avid outdoorsman, who loved digging roots, hiking, camping, hunting, and had a short span as a BassMasters Pro Fisherman, including a 1990 Rookie of the Year and at one time held a few Lake Record Largemouth Catches.
Jeff was a patriot and a veteran of the U.S. Army, as he proudly served his country, the same as his father. He was the son of August and Lorena Presutti. Born on October 10th, 1954, in Murphysboro, IL. He attended Murphysboro School District, until graduating and joining the Armed Forces in 1971. Jeff married his first wife, Renie (Ellis) Presutti, in 1975 and together they had two sons, Jeffry Presutti Jr. and Jacob “Jake” Presutti, both of Pomona, IL. Six years after their divorce, in 1986, Jeff married Bertha Weimer, of Carterville, IL, which they had a long and successful marriage until Bertha’s sad passing in 2017.
While married to Bertha, and becoming a step-father to Bertha’s son, Mark Weimer, Jeff and Bertha became foster parents, and saw many children come across their home’s threshold. Several of those children remained with them as they aged out of childhood and into their own individual lives as successful adults. The final three children they fostered, all three since birth, were so much part of the family, they would be adopted, making Jeff and Bertha’s parental path happily start all over again. Jeff spent his early retirement days caring for Bertha and their adopted children. After Bertha’s passing, Jeff met Lauri, and for the past seven years, they travelled together, spent time exploring and Jeeping through the countrysides of the local Midwest, and Lauri was by his side, helping care for Jeff through his last few years. He spent his final days at home with family and loved ones and his fiancee, Lauri.
He was preceded in death by his parents, August and Lorena (James) Presutti; older brother, Steve; older sister, Joyce; step-son, Mark; and wife, Bertha. Jeff leaves behind two biological sons, Jeffry Presutti Jr. and Jake Presutti, both of Pomona; three adopted children, Taylor Presutti, Kaylee Presutti, and Brayden Presutti, of Christopher; sister, Patti Proctor and family of Murphysboro; brothers, David and Peter Presutti; fiancee, Lauri Swinyer Stanger and her grandson, Nehemiah; granddaughters (Jeff Jr.) Miranda Hale, (Jake) Laycee Presutti-Murillo and her husband, Leo, of Ramstein, Germany, Jayclynn Presutti, Ashlynn Presutti, Maebry Presutti, Mykell Presutti, all of Murphysboro; Kaleigh Arnsmeyer, and her three children of Jackson, MO, one great-grandson (Laycee) Malakye Andres Murillo of Ramstein, Germany; and many nieces, nephews, neighbors, and friends.
A graveside service was held at Fairview Cemetery in Pomona, IL, on Sunday, May 25, at 3 p.m.
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