Pastor Jack P. Adwell

Jack P. Adwell, 76, of Decatur, passed away at 7:28 p.m. Tuesday, February 17, 2026 in Shelbyville Manor Memory Care.

Celebration of Life services will be at Noon Monday, February 23, 2026, in the Life Foursquare Church in Decatur. Visitation will be at the church from 10:00 a.m. until Noon. Graveside services will be at 3:30 p.m. Monday, February 23, 2026, in the Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany. Memorials are suggested to the Life Foursquare Church in Decatur, the Alzheimer’s Association or to Shelbyville Manor Memory Care. Online condolence may be sent to reedfuneralhome.net. Arrangements by the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan.

Jack was born April 18, 1949, in Monmouth, Illinois, the son of James G. and Dorothy E. Chapman Adwell. Jack graduated from Monmouth Public Schools in 1967. He attended Mt. Vernon Bible College in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. He received his master's degree from the University of Illinois in May of 2008. The first church Jack pastored was in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. He later served at Moline Gospel Temple as a youth pastor. He also served at Bloomington Foursquare Church in Bloomington, Illinois, Decatur Foursquare Church, Life Foursquare Church and Silver Creek Foursquare Church in Douglas, Arizona.

Jack worked for many years at the Good News Bear Camp. His dedication and love for the kids was the ‘bigger than life’ Veggie Tales room he created. All the graphic design, booklets, the sound system he set up, and all the time he taught, blessed the Lord and touched many lives, both campers and staff. Kids loved him and wanted to hang out with him all the time.

Jack was a gifted teacher, both divinity and computer technology. He started teaching at Richland Community College in 1999. In 2011 Jack was named Outstanding Faculty Member and was named Business and Technology Division Dean in January 2012. Jack retired in 2016 and was named Professor Emeritus in 2024.

Jack married Rebecca Farris Hall on July 3, 2004 in Bethany.

Surviving are his wife Rebecca of Decatur; children Kris (Jeff) Klinger of Reno, Nevada, James (Mira) Adwell of Fairfax Station, Virginia, bonus children Julie (Tom) Courson of Dalton City, Jennifer (D.J.) Linville of Veedersburg, Indiana; step-brother Bob (Carol) Parrish of Manito; sisters Joan Marlow of Monmouth and Betty Thompson of Peoria; brother and sisters-in-law Punch and Cheryl Martin and Diane and Brent Phillips of Bethany; mother-in-law Norma Farris of Bethany, and grandchildren Brooke Klinger, Chase Klinger,  Kaia Adwell and Quinn Adwell. Bonus grandchildren Hope Linville, Holly Linville, Peyton Courson, and Parker Courson,.

He was preceded in death by his parents and father-in-law Billy Farris.