John Willard Doyle, of Dixon, was born on February 9, 1927, at Dixon, a son of John and Nettie Florence (Null) Doyle, and departed this life at 6:45 p.m., on Saturday evening, March 24, 2018, in the Phelps County Regional Medical Center, Rolla. He had attained the age of 91 years, 1 month, and 15 days.

Mr. Doyle was united in marriage on December 26, 1948, at Waynesville, to the former Miss Velma Lea Williams, and to this union, five children were born. He was preceded in death by his wife of almost forty-nine years on December 16, 1997; an infant son, Gary Doyle, on December 4, 1957; one daughter-in-law, Belinda Lee Doyle, on March 12, 2013; his father, John, on March 26, 1980; his mother, Nettie, on June 14, 1976; three brothers, infant Lloyd Doyle on February 2, 1915, Bobby Doyle on July 11, 1984, and Wilson Dean Doyle on June 8, 2012; and four sisters, Blanche Fuller on April 11, 1994, Marjorie Jones on August 17, 1962, Esther Schenk on July 1, 2004, and Eva Doyle on April 3, 2005.

On March 27, 1946, at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, Mr. Doyle entered into active federal service in the Army of the United States and served until April 2, 1947, when he was honorably discharged at Fort Monroe, Virginia, at the rank of Sergeant (T/5). His military occupational specialty was that of being trained as a Cannoneer (No. 1736) as well as being awarded and entitled to wear the World War II Victory Medal.  A man of excellent character, John Willard's "Honorable Discharge" is a testimonial of honest and faithful service to his country.

During his working life, Mr. Doyle was employed by Granite City Steel Corporation, Granite City, Illinois, for thirty-seven years prior to his retirement.  While living in Granite City, he attended the Church of the Nazarene and had accepted Jesus Christ as his Personal Savior.  Mr. Doyle and his wife raised their four surviving children in Granite City and Collinsville, Illinois, before moving  to their hometown of Dixon, Missouri, for retirement.  He especially enjoyed being outdoors, fishing, hunting, gardening, and horses.

Those left to mourn the passing of Mr. Doyle include: Three sons and two daughters-in-law, Jerry and Sherry Doyle, Portland, Tennessee; Dan Doyle, Dixon; and Mike and Michelle Doyle, Independence, Kansas; one daughter and son-in-law, Phyllis and Jes Nishwitz, Collinsville, Illinois; one brother and sister-in-law, Junior and Betty Doyle, Dixon; two sisters and one brother-in-law, Louella Jennings, Granite City, Illinois; and Wanda and Earl VanScoy, Dixon; fourteen grandchildren, Angela Feldman, David Nishwitz, Jeremy Doyle, Laban Doyle, Scott Doyle, Bethany Hildebrand, Janice Huff, Jefery Tennant, John C. Doyle, Shelly Bryant, Cerisa Doyle, Emily Doyle, Alex Doyle, and Daniel Doyle; eighteen great-grandchildren, Katelyn Feldman, Tyler Feldman, Zachary Weiss-Nishwitz, Reagan Myers, Brandon Doyle, Hailey Nishwitz, Abigail Huff, Savannah Hildebrand, Cheyenne Hildebrand, Layla Doyle, Delainey Doyle, Benjamin Bryant, Gianni Gordon, Hadley Doyle, Ethan Huff, John D. Doyle, Adalyn Doyle, and Owen Huff; nephews; nieces; other relatives; and many dear friends.

Visitation for Mr. John Willard Doyle will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., on Wednesday, March 28, 2018, and from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., on Thursday, March 29, 2018, in the Dixon Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home, 105 East Third Street, Dixon, Missouri 65459, and his funeral service following at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel with Pastor Helen Winters officiating.

Interment, with full military honors, will be in the Seaton Cemetery, near Dixon, under the direction of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home in Dixon. Pallbearers for Mr. Doyle will be David Nishwitz, Jeremy Doyle, Laban Doyle, Scott Doyle, John C. Doyle, and Daniel J. Doyle, and Jes Nishwitz, Roy Doyle, Kenny Doyle, Michael Feldman, Brian Hildebrand, and Alex Doyle serving as his honorary pallbearers.

Memorial contributions in memory of Mr. John Willard Doyle are suggested by his family to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, or in care of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home, P.O. Box EE, Dixon, Missouri 65459.