John W. VanDeWoestyne
November 11, 1953 ~ March 25, 2020 (age 66)
John W. VanDeWoestyne, 66, of Geneseo, passed away unexpectedly, on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, at his home. A private funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, at Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory, Geneseo Chapel. Reverend Melva Graham will officiate. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery, Geneseo. The funeral service will be streamed on Facebook Live for family, friends, and loved ones unable to attend the services in person. A public memorial service and luncheon will be held at a later date, at Grace United Methodist Church. Memorials may be directed to Richmond Hill Players, Quad City Music Guild, or Mayo Clinic.
John was born November 18, 1953, the son of Walter and Veva (Welch) VanDeWoestyne, in Geneseo. He graduated from Atkinson High School. John married Judy E. Burmeister on April 7, 1990, in Davenport, IA. He was employed by the City of Geneseo for 34 years, retiring as Public Works Director in 2009. John’s first loves were theatre and music. He was currently the president of the Richmond Hill Players and served as the business manager. He was instrumental in directing and participating in more than 100 productions and was affectionately known as “Mr. Richmond Hill”. He enjoyed singing with the Pleasant Valley Men. His love from a young age led him to performing and participating as a musician as well as a leader with the Knights Drum and Bugle Corp. He was a member of the Geneseo Rotary Club and Grace United Methodist Church. He and Judy enjoyed their time spent with their dinner club and those times with their friends. He participated in a weekly bible study on Wednesdays and he loved playing poker with his buddies.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Judy; children, Emily VanDeWoestyne, Davenport, IA, and Shay VanDeWoestyne, Davenport, IA; niece, Andrea Mock; and nephew, Larry Mock.
He is preceded by his parents, brother Farrell Mock, and his sister, Sister Sandra Mock.
About Us
History
Richmond Hill Players started as a dream of a half dozen people in 1968 when they staged a single production, Molière's "The Miser." The group converted the top floor of an old dairy barn to fit their needs and has never looked back. The recently renovated Barn now approximately 160 per performance in a rare and unique in-the-round environment beneath the original, rustic timbers. Approximately 150 active members are involved on and off-stage each year. Actors, directors, backstage personnel, support staffs, and audience are drawn from a 60-mile radius that includes cities in Illinois and Iowa. Currently, the Players stage all six productions at the Barn in a season running from April through November. RHP prides itself in presenting a wide variety of comedies, dramas, and thrillers that local audiences might not otherwise have the opportunity to see. The group strives to stretch both audiences and participants, seldom hesitating to schedule productions that present casting or technical challenges.
Seating Policy
Richmond Hill's theater features General Admission seating. Making reservations guarantees you the requested number of seats, but seating location is based upon arrival time.
No late seating. No one is admitted to the theater once the show has started.
Reservations guaranteed until 10 minutes prior to show times, at which time the seats may be released to others.
No refunds for late arrivals.
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