Jeremy Dean “Blusty” Blust, 43, of Oneida, left this Earth peacefully surrounded by family and friends on Thursday, August 8, 2024, from OSF St. Francis Medical Center.
Jeremy was born on October 29, 1980, in Galesburg. He was the son of E. Dean and Jeanne (Calkins) Blust. He married the love of his life, Tina Laws on August 10, 2002 at the Heritage Presbyterian Church, Monmouth and together they celebrated 22 years of life, which included the births of their daughters. Surviving Jeremy are his wife, Tina of Oneida; daughters, Molly and Maggie of Oneida; parents Dean and Jeanne of Monmouth; sister Ashley (Dan) Bushong of Monmouth; maternal grandparents Eli (Deanna) Calkins of Wataga; sister-in-law, Cassandra (Shannon) Tyler of Brimfield; brother-in-law, Adam (Jacquie) Laws of Monmouth; nieces and nephews, Eli, Stewart and Everett Bushong; Amara and Aven Tyler; and Ava, Keira, Mikki and Nora Laws; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Everett and Delores “Dee” Blust; Uncles Steven Blust and Russell Calkins and special family members, Dale and Edith Williamson.
Jeremy was a 1998 graduate of Monmouth High School, where he was the recipient of the Funderburk Award. Jeremy was known as the “Water Guy” but was more formally a water operations specialist for the 24 years where he has spent the last 12 years working for Aqua Illinois, 18 years for the village of Wataga and the last 2 for Little John Conservation Camp Ground. He was a member of the Heritage Presbyterian Church. Jeremy LOVED ROWVA and ROWVA Sports, especially softball and basketball (which his daughters played). He loved to coach and was known as the “jack of all trades” and “the human google map” and for knowing useless trivia. He loved to play Pub G and had quite the group of friends that encompassed the world. Most of all he was a selfless, amazing and patient man, who put his family first and kept his faith close to his heart. He loved spending time with his family especially his girls, nieces and nephews, and Trey for whom he became a father figure to.
Cremation rites have been accorded. Visitation will be held from 4-6 p.m., Friday, August 16, 2024, at Hurd-Hendricks Funeral Homes and Crematory, Knoxville. Graveside services will be 10 a.m., Saturday, August 17, 2024, at the Wataga Cemetery. A celebration of life will follow at Jeremy and Tina’s residence at noon. Hurd-Hendricks Funeral Homes and Crematory, Knoxville are assisting the family with arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family to set up an account for ROWVA Sports. On-line condolences and/or expressions of sympathy may be sent through www.hurd-hendricksfuneralhome.com.
