Obituary of John Summerfield Corzine

Corzine, John Summerfield, 77, of Sun City Center, Florida, formerly a long time resident of LeRoy, Illinois, passed away (Wednesday) May 7, 2008. At his request he will be cremated. The services in Sun City Center, Florida will be at Sun City Center Funeral Home on June 9, 2008 at 1:00 P.M. There will also be a service in LeRoy, Illinois at the Calvert-Belangee-Bruce Funeral Home on July 19, 2008. Burial will be at Oak Grove Cemetery Le Roy, Illinois following the July 19th service. John was employed as a Systems Analyst for State Farm Insurance Company (Life), Bloomington, Illinois until he retired after 35 years of service. He and Betty became residents of Kings Point in the 90s where John became a regular attendee and contributor to the Genealogy Club. Many members of the Corzine, Summerfield, McCrory, and Sacry families came to rely on John for information and research. Family members from all over the country sent him information. He was a regular fixture at annual family reunions in Illinois. Right from the beginning John was active with the computer clubs in Kings Point and Sun City Center. It is impossible to say all that John did for the Computer Club. He was their chief technician and installer, assisting in all of their computer needs. He was involved in many facets of the club, including maintenance, purchasing, the newsletters, and training. Any aspect where assistance was needed, John stepped in to provide his support. His phone and email were always busy as he willingly helped people with their computers enabling them to electronically communicate with their grandchildren. John assisted many other groups when they had their meetings. Making sure that their technical needs were provided for and that any difficulties were quickly corrected. John, was a member of Moose and Elks Lodges where he assisted in the community through various activities. His family and friends will remember John as being a good and loving husband, father, and Papa, active in the communities where he lived. John was a volunteer EMT for the LeRoy Ambulance Service. He was very active in the Boy Scouts of America and held many leadership positions in both the local troop and the regional council. He had many fond memories of his Wood Badge training and guiding his sons through Scouting. He also volunteered as an advisor for Explorers teaching electronics and computers. He was the proud recipient of the "Silver Antelope" award for his Explorer activities. John graduated from Milliken University in Decatur Illinois with a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration in 1952. John enlisted in the U.S. Army in August of 1952 and served as an acting Sergeant and a Drill Instructor at Camp Gordon, Georgia. His knowledge of hunting and his woods lore plus his skill in map reading led the Army to place him in charge of Map Reading and Orientation as well as sending him to Leadership Course. In August of 1954, he was honorably discharged from active service and was transferred to U.S. Army Reserves. John was the first born (Oct 29, 1930 Des Moines, Iowa ) of Marion Clark Summerfield and Allen Dewitt Corzine. John married Patricia Louise McCrory on May 29 1954 in Decatur, Illinois. Patricia passed away June 14, 1968. John married Betty Maurine Sacry Garton on April 29,1971 in Normal, Illinois. John is survived by his loving wife Betty and his children: Ralph Allen (Judy) Corzine of Topeka, Kansas; John "Jack" Michael (Jean) Corzine of Downs, Illinois; Charles Patrick (Laura) Corzine of Jacksonville, Florida; son-in-law Theodore A. Morrow of Carbondale, Illinois; and step-daughter Lilinda (Christopher) Brittin of Bloomington, Illinois. His grandchildren: Nikki (Tim) Goggin and Pfc. Michael Corzine, ILARNG of Downs, Illinois; Sally Jo Morrow and James Allen Morrow of Carbondale, Illinois; Scot Ryan Corzine of Topeka, Kansas.; Michael (Mary) Palm of Glenn Ellyn, Illinois; Charles(Gaye) Ross of Bloomington, Illinois; Amy DeFries of LeRoy, Illinois; and Geoffery Ross of Chicago, Illinois. His great grandchildren: Keegan Ross, Alexander Ross, Katlin Ross, Kyler Defries, Aynsleigh Defries, Madeline Palm, and Michael Palm. John was preceded in death by his parents, Allen (died August 16, 1956) and Marion (died July 7, 1996), his wife Patricia (died June 14, 1968), daughter Deborah June Morrow (died July 20,2004), granddaughter Patricia June Morrow (died May 10,1986), sister Jane Denise Nelson (died Oct 21, 2006), and brother Richard Allen Corzine (died March 21, 1938). In place of flowers please send memorials on John's behalf to The Computer Club, Inc. of Sun City Center; The Redeemer Lutheran Church of Sun City Center; the Harold L. Summerfield Scholarship, 1923 Brown University, Providence, RI 02912; the Boy Scouts of America; or a charity of your choice in his name.