John T. Trutter, 86, of Northfield, formerly of Evanston, a retired Illinois Bell Telephone Co. senior vice-president, died February 2 at Glenbrook Hospital, Glenview. He was preceded in death by his wife, Edith (Weque) English Woods Trutter. Mr. Trutter was born into one of Springfield, Illinois's most prominent families on April 18, 1920. His great-grandfather, Philip Mischler Jr., and Abraham Lincoln's children were playmates, chronicled by Mr. Trutter in a book, "A Profile of Legacy and Leadership." A graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, he was student body president his senior year, as well as president of his fraternity, Alpha Sigma Phi. Following graduation, Mr. Trutter served four years in the U.S. Army where he attained the rank of Lt. Colonel at 25 years of age. He was appointed Chief of Personnel Services for the US forces in China-Burma-India. He was decorated with the Legion of Merit for his military achievements. After the war, Mr. Trutter joined Illinois Bell Telephone Co. He worked for the utility his entire life, except for two years at American Telephone & Telegraph's world headquarters where he was on the executive staff. When he retired in 1985, he was senior vice-president for community affairs and public relations. For sixteen years, Mr. Trutter was the chancellor of the Lincoln Academy, a prestigious society honoring Illinois natives. He was also chairman of the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater Chicago, board member of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Hull House Association and the Champaign News-Gazette, president and CEO of the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau and President of the Chicago Tourism Council. Mr. Trutter was a leader and director of over 40 city, state and national organizations. He also was a member of two Illinois State commissions, three Chicago mayoral transition teams and three circuit county judge committees. In 1980, Gov. James Thompson decorated him with the Order of Lincoln, the state's highest award for Mr. Trutter's work with social services. In 1986, Lincoln College in Illinois awarded him an honorary Doctor's degree. He was awarded the United Cerebral Palsy honor for Lifetime of Leadership and awarded the national award for Individual Services for Infinitec. In 1999, he received the Canal Corridor's Boat Captain's Award for service. In 1950, Mr. Trutter married Edith English (Weque) Woods, the grandniece of Cora English Tanner, wife of former Illinois Gov. John Riley Tanner, and a Springfield native. They moved to Evanston where they lived for forty-nine years. He is survived by two children, Edith English Trutter (Kenneth A.) Hauff of Northfield, Jonathan Trutter of Lake Forest and two grandchildren, Colburn and Alexandra.
Visitation Friday, February 9, 2007 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Funeral Mass Saturday 10:00 a.m. at Saint Philip the Apostle Church, 1962 Old Willow Road, Northfield

Interment Oak Ridge Cemetery, Saturday 3:30 p.m., 1441 Monument, Springfield, IL 62702 (217) 789-2340


In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the John T. Trutter United Cerebral Palsy Association Center, CHECK PAYABLE TO: UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY, 3145 South 55th Ave., Cicero, Il. 60804