John Isamu Matayoshi Letizia (62) of Neoga

John Isamu Matayoshi Letizia, 62, of Neoga, Illinois passed away at home surrounded by his family on October 10, 2024.  

A celebration of life will be at 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 19 at First Christian Church of Neoga. An informal visiting with the family is open to all from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. before the service on October 19.

John was born Isamu Matayoshi to Yoko Matayoshi on February 15, 1962, in Ginowan, Okinawa, Japan. He was lovingly raised as an island boy by his mother. Daniel Letizia Jr. married Yoko in 1969 and adopted Isamu, giving him his last name. When they moved to America in 1970 the Japanese only speaking Isamu received his American name John and an excitement for a new life in America.  

John lived in San Angelo, Texas until the family settled in Green Valley, Illinois then finally moving to Pekin, Illinois his junior year graduating from Tremont High School in 1981. He played basketball, track & field, baseball, and football. While in high school he started a band with his friends called KLM. He graduated from Western Illinois University with a degree in Personnel Admin/Industrial Relations in 1986. It was there in the fall of 1984, at the Christian Campus House, that he met his future wife, Reeni McElyea. Six months later they were engaged and on July 18, 1987, Isamu and Reeni were married. He and his wife moved to Springfield, Illinois where he became the chaplain and assistant administrator at Lewis Memorial Christian Village.   In 1992, John was promoted to open and run a new nursing home facility in Neoga called Heartland Christian Village. While at the helm he put God first giving thousands of lives dignity and care as they were at their end of life. He remained the administrator there until his retirement in 2021. After his retirement John went to work part-time at Menards where he thoroughly enjoyed his coworkers and customers.   John was a very supportive husband working alongside his wife Reeni with many tasks in her career as a coach and teacher. He would spend many hours painting fields, coaching, and doing whatever necessary in her endeavors for her classes and teams.

Isamu’s passion for Christ is his legacy. Isamu loved the Lord with all his heart and dedicated his life to share God’s love with others. He served many years as an Elder in the church and as a youth leader alongside his wife Reeni. He was proud of his sons Wes and Zach and enjoyed watching them grow into strong Godly men and pursue their passions.

John is survived by his wife of 37 years, Reeni; sons, Wesly Letizia of Destin, Florida, and Zachary Letizia of Neoga, Illinois; his mother Yoko Letizia of Raleigh, North Carolina; his brother Greg (Cindy) Letizia of Sunset Beach, North Carolina; his sisters, Veronica (Steve) Knott of Kingman, Arizona and Bonny (Michael) Grabowski of Mission Viejo, California.

He was preceded in death by his father Daniel P. Letizia Jr. and his brother Ron Sawicki Jr.

John’s family would like to extend a special thank-you to the staffs at Sarah Bush Lincoln Memorial Hospital, IU Medical Center, and Carle Hospital for the care that was given.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.swengel-odell.com