Hall of Fame 1969 Track team

John Ronald Nesler

OBITUARY FOR JOHN NESLER ...

John finished 4th in the 1967 MIAA Conference meet and 3rd in the 1968 MIAA meet in the Javelin.

John Ronald Nesler, 76, of Herrin, passed away Tuesday, September 7, 2021, at SIH Herrin Hospital. Ron was the owner and operator of Nesler’s Polar Whip in Energy.

Ron also coached multiple sports across Southern Illinois for over 50 years. For the last 40 plus years, he has coached in Herrin for the Herrin Jr. High School and Herrin High School. He was inducted into Illinois Coaches Association Hall of Fame for his over 50 years of dedicated coaching.

Ron was a member of the Herrin First Baptist Church. He was a Sunday School teacher for several years for the church.

Ron was born February 6, 1945 in Herrin to John “Sollie” and Helen (Williams) Nesler. Ron married Jeannie Vogt on June 8, 1966 in Herrin.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Jeannie Nesler of Herrin; daughter and son-in-law, Jeannine & Toby Coffey of Herrin; two sons and daughters-in-law, John & Melissa Nesler of Herrin and James & Kim Nesler of Herrin; 12 grandchildren, Jessica & Bart Gwaltney, Mindy & Adam Harrison, Toby & Corie Coffey, Bronson Nesler, Breanna Nesler, Marina Nesler, Caulden Lazenby, Chase Lazenby, Jake Nesler, Hannah Nesler, and Kinsey Nesler; 5 great grandchildren, Cameran Gwaltney, J. J. Gwaltney, Josie Brandon, Brooklynn Brandon, and Olivia Harrison; and two cousins, Doug Williams of Los Angles, Ca and Cindy Stacy of Herrin. He is preceded in death by his four granddaughters, Braelyn Janae Nesler, Eliana Kathryn Nesler, Alexa Renee Nesler, and Karissa Hazel Nesler; great-granddaughter, Sophie Rae Coffey; and his parents.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 11, 2021, at Meredith-Waddell Funeral Home in Herrin with Rev. Mark Goldman officiating. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Memorial donations in Ron’s memory in lieu of flowers, may be made to Herrin High School Athletic Department, 700 North 10th Street, Herrin, IL 62948; envelopes will be available at the funeral home.