John M. Key, 79, of Urbana died at 12:30am Monday (May 18, 2015) at Presence Covenant Medical Center, Urbana.

He was born in Champaign Feb. 1, 1936 to Maurice Key and Mary Handley Key.

John married Darlene Loitz of Chicago, IL April 6, 1972. She died in 2001. He is survived by one son, John David Key, of Urbana.

John was a 1954 graduate of Champaign High School (now Central) and graduated from the U of I in 1958. In 1959 he joined the U S Armed Services and was stationed in Alaska. For many years, John was Manager of the U of I Horse Farm.

In 2005, John married his present wife, Jan, who survives. He is also survived by a step-daughter and 2 step-sons, 5 step- granddaughters and 3 step-great grandsons.

Memorial Services will be held at 2:00 Sat. May 30, 2015 at Renner-Wikoff Chapel, 1900 S. Philo Road, Urbana.

Donations in John's memory may be made to Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation or to Gideon Bibles Int.