John James Linkul Jr., 81, of Fredericktown, formerly of Otto, died Aug. 20, 2024, at Jefferson Barracks Medical VA Hospital. Mr. Linkul was a 1961 graduate of Northwest High School. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a communications specialist during the Cuban Missile Crisis stationed in Ismir, Turkey. He was a lifeguard at Sun and Swim Country Club, a valet at Cheshire Inn, a pipefitter for Grinnell Pipefitters, a cosmetologist, a distributor and owner for Winslow Beauty Salon Products, a public relations rep. for Auto Glass Co., an agent and owner of Farmers Insurance Group and an antique shop/ B & B owner. He volunteered at the Russellville Historical Society, was a member of the Colorado Historical Society, Douglas County Colorado Preservation Board representative and Beetletree president. His interests were in history, arrowheads and Native American artifacts, coins, horses, cars, antiques and auctions. He financially supported St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, Wounded Warriors Project and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Born April 21, 1943, in St. Louis, he was the son of the late Mary and John Linkul Sr.
He was preceded in death by wives: Beth Linkul and Virginia “Ginny” Linkul; and life partner: Donna Lee Counts.
He is survived by a child: Christopher John Linkul Larsen; five siblings: Patricia Ann (Kenneth) Leicht of Fenton, Elizabeth (Sidney) Schnable of Fredericktown, Susan Marie Linkul of Imperial, Michael Joseph (Deborah Giron) Linkul of Houston and Joan (Jeffrey) Abney of Piedmont; a sister-in-law: Tina Linkul; 11 nieces and nephews: Scott (Jeanne) Leicht of St. Louis, Christopher Robert Linkul of Carson City, Nev., Amanda Ree (Renѐ) of Vista, Calif., Robert (Keagan) Linkul of Shingle Springs, Calif., Bryan (Amanda) Schnable of Fredericktown, Kevin (Gretchen) Schnable of Antonia, Kimberly (Kevin) Wilde of High Ridge, Sean Murphy of Arnold, Matthew (Felicia) Murphy of Imperial, Ryan Murphy of Lemay and Brandon Murphy of De Soto, 16 great-nieces and -nephews: Janelle Leicht and Ethan Leicht, both of St. Louis, Brandon, Catherine and C.J. Linkul, all of Carson City, Nev., Peyton and Bristol Linkul, both of Shingle Springs, Calif., Andrew, Trevor and Hunter Schnable, all of Fredericktown, Issac and Abigail Schnable, both of Festus, Claire Schnable of Antonia, Hadley Hiller of O’Fallon, Kaleb and Kaden Wilde, both of High Ridge and Harper Murphy of Arnold; a great-great niece: Mirabella Vitullo of Lemay.
He also was preceded in death by a brother: Richard Linkul; and a nephew: Richard Linkul, Jr.
Visitation is scheduled from 4-7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 26, at Jay B. Smith Funeral Home, 777 Oakwood Drive, in Fenton. A funeral Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27, at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 5 Forest Knoll Drive, in Fenton. Burial will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery in Ellisville. Arrangements are under the direction of Jay B. Smith Funeral Home.