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He graduated from Capitol High School in Topeka, KS and went into the Army in 1943. John served with the 91st Infantry Division as an artillery observer, serving in Africa and Italy during WWII and was later stationed at the 103rd station hospital in Italy – a POW hospital for Germans. After the war, John graduated from Park College in Parkville, MO where he met and married Nora Jane Chiles on August 29, 1949. They lived in Lebanon, MO then moved in 1954 to Springfield where he became a sales rep for Chiles Tractor and Machinery Co. In 1960 John joined Jerry Nixon Insurance Agency which later became Nixon Simpson Insurance. In 1965, he established Simpson Insurance which he owned and operated until 1990. In 1962, he became involved with a new resort on Table Rock Lake – Rock Lane Lodge and was acting president until it was sold in 1988. John was one of the founding members of Springfield Southeast Rotary Club and remained an active member until his death, having served as president in 1974 and five terms as Sargent of Arms. He hosted 44 annual shrimp feeds at his house from 1970 to 2013. John was a devout Catholic and very active in church activities, first at Immaculate Conception, and then at Holy Trinity.

He was preceded in death by his wife Jane, his parents, grandson Jason, and sister Agnes Anne. He is survived by his children John Watt, Richard (Valorie), Martin (Nancy), and Jennifer Simpson, two step children Holly Reed (Chris), and Heidi Smith (Tom) from a second marriage to Karol Hilton, six grandchildren and six great grandchildren, all in the Springfield area. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins throughout the U.S. and Canada.

John was a born entertainer and famous for his humor, joie de vivre, wit, big heart and delicious cooking. He never missed on opportunity for a joke or a prank, and will be forever cherished and missed.

A funeral mass will take place at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Springfield, MO on Thursday, June 22 at 10 am. Visitation will be Wednesday from 6-7:30pm at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Kitchen, 1630 N. Jefferson Ave, Springfield, MO 65803.