John Robert “Bob” Ware, 59, of Jacksonville, died Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012, at his beloved Barlow Hunting Club near Meredosia.

He was born Oct. 28, 1953, in Joliet, the son of Richard and Maysel Jones Ware. He married Cheryl Watson on Dec. 28, 1974, at Salem Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, and she survives.

Bob is also survived by two daughters, Abby Ware (husband, David) Nagel of St. Louis, and Kelly Ware (husband, John) Armour of Nashville, Tenn.; two grandchildren, John Robert “Jack” Armour and Ruth Sophia Armour, both of Nashville, Tenn.; his father, Richard (wife, Anne) Ware, his sister, Vickie (husband, Danny) Brooks, and his brother, Jim (wife, Leslie) Ware, all of Jacksonville; and several nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews. His mother, Maysel Ware, preceded him in death.

Bob was a 1971 graduate of Jacksonville High School where he excelled in athletics and still holds several track and field records. He was inducted into the Jacksonville High School Hall of Fame in 1988. Bob attended Illinois Wesleyan University where he ran track and was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon. He joined his family’s business, Ware Oil Company (Wareco) in 1974, and remained there as vice-president of operations until 2001. Following his retirement, Bob was able to indulge his passions. He spent winters in Florida with his family and served as vice-president of the West Bay Cove South Association in Holmes Beach, Fla. He loved golfing and fishing with his friends and family, and was instrumental in the development of the Barlow Hunting Club. He was a fan of the New York Yankees and Green Bay Packers. Bob loved life and his friends, and he cherished his family.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Annie Merner Chapel on the campus of MacMurray College in Jacksonville. Private interment will be at Woodwreath Cemetery near New Berlin. The family will meet friends from 3-7 p.m. Wednesday at the Williamson Funeral Home in Jacksonville. Memorials are suggested to the Jacksonville Public Schools Foundation or Ducks Unlimited. Condolences may be left to the family online at www.airsman-hires.com.

Source:  Jacksonville Journal-Courier on Dec. 4, 2011