In 1977, a person named John Huffer took a number of images of two massive birds withdrawing from a tree. Though the sighting was talked about by the Discovery Channel on their present, Into the Unknown, the birds pictured within the images had been dismissed as turkey vultures somewhat than Thunderbirds. This actuality tv look was linked to the sightings in Lawndale, Illinois. John Huffer, identified later as Chief A. J. Huffer turned a widely known advocate of big cryptid birds. Thunderbird sightings have continued into the brand new millennium.
On March 29, 2022, ”Chief AJ” Huffer suffered a fall. The docs found a critical an infection, and he started a combat for his life. On March 30, 2022, he handed away.
Chief AJ John Huffer, 84, of Tuscola, Illinois, died along with his loving spouse, Corinne, close by at 9:15 a.m. March 30, 2022 at Sarah Bush Lincoln Well being Heart, Mattoon, Illinois.
Chief AJ was born in Peoria on Dec. 25, 1937. He was adopted by Charles and Dorothy Busey Huffer of Urbana.
Chief AJ attended the College of Illinois after graduating from Urbana Excessive Faculty in 1955. He joined the Marine Corps after one semester on the UI. Throughout his time as a Marine in California, he was a physique builder and a degree 1 marksman. After honorable discharge, he returned to the UI, the place he was recruited to be a mannequin for artwork college students. That’s the place he met and fell in love with artwork pupil Corinne Shreve. They had been married on July 26, 1959. They had been married 62 years till Corinne’s passing on Aug. 17, 2021.
Chief AJ is survived by his son, Jason (Janice) Huffer of Waverly, Ohio; daughter, Rebekah (Vince) Baldauf of Anchorage, Alaska; grandchildren, Benjamin Burton, Tara Huffer (Lawrence) and CoWanda Pleasure Huffer and Dottie (Cody) and John Baldauf; and great-grandsons, Bastian Skye Burton and Noah Lawrence Moshofsky Huffer.
He was preceded in demise by his spouse, Corinne Huffer; father, Charles C. Huffer; mom, Dorothy Busey Huffer; sister, Mary Huffer Hickman; and granddaughter, Stephanie Corinne Huffer.
At 80 years previous, by way of DNA testing, he was blessed to be united along with his organic brother, Theodore Yednock.
Funeral companies shall be at 11 a.m. Monday, April 4, at Hilligoss Shrader Funeral Residence, 705 S. Foremost St., Tuscola, with the Rev. Ralph Deal officiating. Burial will comply with in Tuscola Township Cemetery. Visitation shall be from 4 to six p.m. Sunday, April 3, on the funeral residence.
Chief graduated from Bible school and was impressed to begin a boys residence. This introduced him again to Tuscola, the place they bought a big residence for the boys residence. The boys residence finally modified to an assisted residing residence. Then, with companions, he opened We Care Nursing Residence in Arcola. Additionally they opened lodge eating places in Arcola and Mattoon. He finally joined the Carpenters Union in Champaign Urbana. He later was a contractor and had dinner within the White Home with Ronald Reagan as Minority Contractor of the 12 months.
Chief was a scrawny child. He needed to begin weight coaching at an early age. His mother and father made him be taught all of the muscle mass earlier than they allowed him to get a dumb bar set. He went on to compete in Mr. America twice in his life and quite a few physique constructing competitions. He represented Tuscola within the Tremendous Pure Physique Traditional in 2001, the place he received first-place grasp 55 and over.
Chief had an epiphany and was set on capturing a world report. Over an eight-day interval in March 1987, he shot a world report of 14,060 wooden blocks and not using a miss. This landed him on the quilt of Weapons journal and launched his journey of fame within the gun world. He later developed the Chief AJ Slingbow, which has been bought everywhere in the world. His expensive pal, Tony Reeves, now runs his “Slingbow Empire.” Chief appeared on actuality TV reveals “High Shot,” “Man vs Machine,” “Monster Hunters” and “Historical past’s Mysteries.” He personally bought to know Roy Rodgers and had a giant Cowboy Indian gun alternate in Las Vegas.
Chief AJ (Apostle John) had a love of the Lord and loved preaching and bringing folks to the Lord.
Chief AJ had a terrific love for his household. He took His spouse, Corinne, everywhere in the nation to gun reveals and nationwide parks. He frolicked in Alaska for the start of his grandchildren, and graduations, after counting their toes and fingers and watching graduations, he can be off on Alaskan looking adventures. He was blessed to have his granddaughter, Tara, and her household stick with him for the final month. He developed a stupendous bond along with his 7-month-old great-grandson, Noah.
Chief AJ has many followers all over the world; he has touched many lives. He shall be missed by many. After beating most cancers and residing with extreme neuropathy ache and shedding his beloved spouse, Corinne, he would at all times say, “I’m able to have supper with Jesus.” Chief AJ lived his life to the fullest; he was bigger than life along with his booming voice and massive persona. He’ll perpetually dwell on in his accomplishments and deeds and his everlasting life with the Lord, A-man.
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His firm issued this announcement:
It’s with nice disappointment we should announce that the one and solely, legendary, John “Chief AJ” Huffer has handed on on the age of 84 to be reunited with Jesus and his beloved spouse of 64 years.
Because the founder and namesake of our firm, we need to take a while to honor the quite a few accomplishments he achieved throughout his time right here on earth.
- Chief held many world data in capturing with arrows, rifles, and slingshots. You possibly can be taught extra about these data right here.
- He was a champion bodybuilder in each his youth and as a senior citizen.
- A person of many skills, he was a contractor, a counselor, and a minister… however that’s not all. Chief would additionally grow to be a photographer, an creator, and naturally an inventor/businessman.
- His e-book “The Exploits of Chief AJ” may be bought right here.
- His best invention was our well-known Sling Bow, which (as you might know) is a slingshot that may shoot arrows and is a authorized archery weapon in lots of states at this time.
- He was additionally a TV star for a quick whereas, showing on ‘High Shot’ from the Historical past Channel, after which the Nationwide Geographic Channel, the place he received a shoot-off towards a completely computerized, laser-guided
machine gun.
Whereas we may go on and on bragging about all of the unbelievable issues our beloved John Hufferdid throughout his life, most significantly to us — he was a terrific pal and mentor. For that, he shall be immensely missed.
Fortunately, his legacy will at all times stay on the coronary heart of our firm. Chief AJ the enterprise will proceed to be run by Tony Reaves, because it has for the previous a number of years.
Chief, could you Relaxation In Peace.
My because of Kevin Guhl for passing alongside the information.
Chief AJ & Daughter Becky autographing
“The Exploits of Chief AJ” e-book at Tulsa, OK present.
Video profile or right here.