Dr. John O. Wells

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Dr. John O. Wells, 76, of Anna, died at 1:06 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, at Union County Hospital in Anna.

He was born on April 4, 1933, in Harrisburg to John Orville Wells Sr. and Hettie (Oatman) Wells.

He was a 1951 graduate of Harrisburg High School where he earned all state honors in football.

His education continued at Park College, Mo. from 1951 to 1955. After earning his bachelor of arts degree at Park, he enrolled in University of Illinois Dental School in Chicago where he graduated in 1959. After graduation he entered the US Army and served in Germany, where he met his wife Liselotte Endres, and they were married in her hometown church. He was honorably discharged from the Army with the rank of captain in the Dental Corps.

For years he had been a stockholder and director of the Harrisburg Daily Register and was associated with the newspaper in McLeansboro, Shawneetown and Eldorado. John and Lisa moved to Anna in 1961 where he acquired the dental practice of Dr. Harry Shafer. After serving the community for 30 years, he retired in 1991, when his son and daughter-in-law took over the practice. The highlight of his retirement years were his grandchildren. As a proud grandfather, he played an active role in the lives of his two grandsons and five granddaughters.

He was a member and elder of the First Evangelical Presbyterian Church. He served the community as chairman of the Anna-Jonesboro Water Commission for many years. He had been a member of the Anna Kiwanis, was a member of Harrisburg Masonic Lodge, Shriners, and the National Rifle Association. His professional memberships include American Dental Association, Illinois State Dental Society and Southern Illinois Dental Society. He was a great student of history as well as collector of artifacts, and he loved to travel. He was a quail hunter, trapshooter, and photographer. John Wells was a man of many interests and was known for his great sense of humor.

Survivors are his wife, Lisa; son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Mark Wells and Dr. Ai-Ran Wells; son, Christopher K. Wells; daughter and son-in-law, Ellen Elizabeth Wells-Dorich and Michael Dorich; seven grandchildren, Thomas Mark, Jennifer Lee, Steven Karl, Elizabeth Paige, Julian Viktoria, Madeleine Clair and Evanne Grace.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant sister, Betty Josephine.

Funeral services for Dr. John O. Wells Jr. will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 at the First Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Anna with the Rev. Randy Carstens officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, at Crain Funeral Home, Anna-Jonesboro.

Memorials may be made to the Dr. John O. Wells Scholarship Fund or the First Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home and the church.

Online condolences may be left at the Internet site www.crainsonline.com.

When I am gone and you are searching for me. . .

look in your heart. . .

If you find me there,

I will be with you forever.