Meridian High School Ag Foundation Agency Fund Established in Honor of Jim and Jean Pistorius
To honor the legacy of Jim and Jean Pistorius, the couples children Susan Barnett, with her brother David and on behalf of their deceased brother Michael, have established a $100,000 agency endowment at the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation to benefit the Meridian High School Ag Foundation.
Beyond the annual financial support endowments provide, they also serve to honor the legacy of their namesakes.
Jim was born in Macon County, rural Blue Mound, on Jan. 3, 1928, the son of Roy V. and Edna Gaskins Pistorius. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War, a retired farmer and participated in numerous farm-related activities. He was actively involved at Zion Chapel United Methodist Church.
Jean was born October 25, 1924, in Quincy, IL, the daughter of John Emory and Emma (Hartel) Tuschhoff. Emma passed away early in Jean's childhood and she was blessed to be raised by her stepmother, Ida Reimers Tuschhoff. Jean married Jim on August 26, 1950, in Boody, IL, and thoroughly enjoyed being a farm wife. She earned a bachelor's degree from Western Illinois University and was a kindergarten teacher in Princeton, IL, and Wawatosa, WI. Jean was active in the Zion Chapel United Methodist Church in Boody, IL, and the United Methodist Women. She also volunteered at the Blue Mound Library, the Cunningham Children's Home in Urbana, and a volunteer at Decatur Memorial Hospital.
Jim passed away August 23, 1999. Jean passed away March 28, 2022.
Donors can join the Pistorius family by donating to the Meridian Ag Foundation Agency Fund at this link. https://cfmc.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund.. Donations support the Meridian school districts $2.4 million state-of-the-art Ag education center which includes an AgTech classroom, shop, and greenhouse facility. The Agriculture Program was reintroduced five years ago and has been very successful under the leadership of Jerry Brockett, teacher and FFA advisor. As such, the district is now adding a second teaching position to be able to expand the curriculum.
