John Thomas Wallace, age 69, of LaBelle, MO, passed away Monday, March 7, 2022, at his home south of LaBelle, MO. He was born December 18, 1952, in Quincy, IL the son of Joseph Ralston and Rosemary Ann Smith Wallace.
He was united in marriage to Lori Ann Bruns on July 28, 1979, in Lewistown, MO.
Surviving are his wife Lori Ann Wallace of LaBelle, MO, two sons Joseph Michael Wallace and wife Danika of Ewing, MO and Ryan Thomas Wallace and fiance Angela Kirchner of LaBelle, MO, five sisters, Linda Shanks and husband Robert of Bloomington, IN, Judy Zeigler and husband John of Portland, OR, Janet Beavers of Springfield, MO, Mary Myers of Kirksville, MO, and Marjorie Finlay and husband Kent of Centralia, MO, two grandchildren Suny Wallace and Kashton Wallace, his mother and father-in-law Raymond and Rosalie Bruns of LaBelle, MO, and several nieces and nephews.
John was preceded in death by his parents, two grandsons, Joseph and Mason Hagar Wallace, brother in-law, Randy Bruns and one brother Joseph Michael Wallace.
John graduated from Hickman High School in Columbia, MO and attended the University of Missouri in Columbia. He served his country in the United States Army during the Vietnam War from 1972 to 1973. After his service he returned south of LaBelle where he was engaged in farming with his father. John was a 44year member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 513 in St. Louis, MO. John enjoyed taking motorcycle trips with his wife, spending time with his grandchildren, and farming and working the land. John had an engineering mind because he would always modify a piece of equipment, vehicle, motorcycle or furniture to be the way he thought it ought to be to work best. He had a fondness for Labrador retrievers and owned many through the years. His memory was extremely sharp and his family relied on him to recall dates and events. He was a gun and knife enthusiast. John, like his father, was an avid reader. The most striking part of John’s personality was being a big teaser. He would tease his grandsons, wife and anyone he could stir up.
John will be cremated and graveside services with full military honors will be held Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville, MO. Officiating Chaplin John Bambrick.
There will be no visitation. Memorials are suggested to the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville or the ALS Organization. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Coder Funeral Chapel, P.O. Box 151, LaBelle, MO 63447.