John J Hursta, 80, of Olney, died Friday, Dec. 20, 1996, at his winter home in Arcadia, FL  Burial in Crest Haven Cemetery in Claremont.

Hursta was born June 17, 1916 in Richland County, the son of Arval and Bertha (Frutiger) Hursta. He married Keathel Rainey, Sept 8, 1939 in Owensboro, KY.

He was retired as advertising manager for the Olney Daily Mail. He was a member of Immanuel United Methodist Church in Olney, was a member and Past President and Lieutenant Governor of the Olney Kiwanis Club, was a member of Olney Masonic Lodge #140 A.F.& A.M., where he was a 32nd Mason, and was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, the Ainad Temple, the Knights Templar of Illinois and Royal Arch Masons of Illinois.

Surviving are his wife, of Olney; two daughters, Carol A. Puls, of Arcadia FL, and Babette Ballard, of Springfield, IL; one brother, George Hursta of Olney; one sister, Elizabeth Craig, of Olney; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.