St. George, Utah - John Cressel Sherratt, 89,left this world peacefully April 1, 2013 at home. Cressel as he was known was born January 25, 1924 in Cedar City, Utah to John Bulloch and Mary Diantha Cox Sherratt. He was the third of ten children. He married Jennie Hafen, Oct. 17, 1958, in Enoch, Utah, later solemnized in the St. George LDS Temple.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Ramola, Sarah Helen and Cuella (deceased April 2, 2013) (Don) Dalton; brothers: Garth W. and Boyd Dwight; son, Walter Dean; and granddaughter, Nicole. He is survived by his brothers: Jack Orlon (Florene) and Robert Elray (Marilyn) Sherratt; sisters: Elaine MacRae and Bonnie Gay (J) Deem; children: Grant (Violet), Bill, Mike (DeAnn), Kay, Paul (Lauri), Kenneth (Peggy) Sherratt, Debbie Ginnett, Helen (Dean) Chynoweth and Dianne (Gary) Meyer; 31 grandchildren; and 57 great-grandchildren.

Cressel served in the 17th Airborne Division as a paratrooper. He jumped into France during the Battle of the Bulge, it was there his feet were damaged by frost bite and was wounded by a mortal shell and received one of two purple hearts. He was later attached to General Patton where he was again wounded and received his second purple heart during that campaign. He was then on a ship headed to Japan when Japan surrendered. He served in Korea thereafter until he was honorably discharged.

Cressel had a love for flying, so when he got home he bought a plane and was able to fly food and supplies to the local ranchers and their livestock during the winter of 1949, when it was not possible to drive into the herds. He was one of the founding members of the Iron Rangers Rodeo Club. They built the rodeo grounds behind Milt's Stage Stop where they held rodeos. He and Warren Williams wowed the crowds with their riding skills. He was a rancher and farmer and together with his father and brothers irrigated and harvested over 2000 acres in 1970. He and his brother and their families ran a commercial dairy on Midvalley Road. He operated the Rush Lake Ranch. He was past president of the local Livestock Association and Coal Creek Irrigation Company.

He was active in his church and served in many callings including bishoprics and stake positions. He served as a Temple Ordinance Worker and Sealer in his later years. He was known as an honorable and honest man all his life, he stood up for what he believed and was active in accomplishing whatever he chose to pursue. There is a great reunion in heaven with all his family and friends.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 6, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at the St. George LDS 6 ^th Ward Chapel, 85 South 400 East, St. George, Utah. A visitation will be held Saturday, prior to services, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. at the Chapel. Interment will be held Saturday following services at 1:30 p.m. at the Cedar City Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary, (435) 673-4221.