John William Horine, 88, of Warrensburg, Missouri, died Wednesday May 9, at his home surrounded by family.

A celebration of life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 16, at the First United Methodist Church in Warrensburg. Interment will be at Horine Cemetery in Richwoods, Missouri, at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 17. The family will receive friends from 5-8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15, at Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home.

John will be missed by his wife, Betty (Lewis) Horine. Their wedding was on April 28, 1951, followed by his graduation from Southeastern Missouri State College in May and joining the Army in June. In April 1952, John (or Jack, as he was known to his family) was sent to serve in Korea.

John was a devoted family man and will be missed by daughter Jaqueline (Jackie) and son-in-law Charles (Chuck) Greeson; daughter Donna and son-in-law Wayne Dochterman; son Robert (Rob) and daughter-in-law Cheryl Horine; daughter Karen and son-in-law Michael Brandt; daughter Terri and son-in-law James (Jim) Helmig; his brother, Wayne Horine; and 16 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Norma and John Horine; sisters Juanita (Nita) Mae Horine and Joy Broombaugh; and brother Robert (Bob) Horine.

John was born on the Horine family farm in Richwoods, Missouri. He attended elementary school in Richwoods, graduated from Potosi High School, and received his bachelor’s degree in industrial arts education from SMSC. After Korea, John started a job teaching science and industrial arts at Gideon High School and discovered he loved to teach. John went on to earn a master’s degree in industrial education and a doctorate of education from the University of Missouri.

He began his career at UCM (then CMSC) teaching industrial arts in 1961. He enjoyed being a big part of the development of the Max B. Swisher Skyhaven Airport and the aviation department at UCM. John served as chair for the department of power and transportation for 22 years. He was also pleased when he had the opportunity to pass on the torch of department chair and go back to his true calling, teaching full-time and advising students for the last several years of his career.

John purportedly retired from UCM at least a couple times, but his idea of retirement was different than most and he spent his retirement continuing to work at UCM until 2018, a total of 57 years. He would frequently tell us, “Love what you do, and you will never work a day in your life.”

In addition to their own five children, Jack and Betty welcomed into their home at least 15 other people to live with them to attend college over the years. It started with a young Korean man whom Jack met during his deployment, and later there were nieces, nephews and grandchildren and their friends, and children and nieces of former students. Some stayed only a semester or two while others stayed through bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The lives of so many, worldwide, were touched and enriched by their generosity and hospitality.

John also taught Sunday school for over 50 years. Church was an important part of John’s life, from growing up at the Little Brown Church in Richwoods, through courting Betty at Wesley Foundation at SMSC, the Methodist church in Gideon, and more than 50 years at United Methodist Church in Warrensburg.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Dr. John W. Horine Aviation Professional Scholarship Endowment with checks made payable to UCM Alumni Foundation and can be left in care of the funeral home.