John Thomas Daust
Mr. John Thomas Daust, while his wife and children were with him in his home, peacefully left this world due to natural causes on June 29, 2025 at the age of 80. Having recently accepted Jesus as his Savior, he is now healed and whole. He left a loving wife of nearly 61 years and 4 loving children. He was preceded in death by his beloved grandparents, parents, and sister, three half-brothers, and two half-sisters.
He was born in St. Louis, MO, on September 11, 1944, to Henry and Ruby Daust and was affectionately called “Butch.” He studied Chemistry at Washington University in St. Louis, graduating after 8 years of night school while working full time at Monsanto in Sauget, IL to provide for his growing family. After graduating in 1971, he began working at Monsanto in St. Louis and remained there for 20 years then transferred to FRP in Baxley, in 1986. FRP was bought by AKZO Nobel in 1990 and eventually he retired from there in 2006. He has a patent
on a special chemical process for paper wet strength that his company benefited from greatly.
He is survived by his wife Dorothy M. Daust (Dotsy), and three daughters, Nancy (Tony) Evans, Sandra (Todd) Sabo, Kathy (Nathan) Dorrell, and one son, Jimmy (Michelle) Daust. He has seventeen grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren. There are also several extended family members. Many of these family members learned to water ski under his careful and patient instructions.
He was a treasure trove of information for anyone who asked or needed advice especially if you needed to know how to fix something or were interested in Chemistry. He enjoyed hunting, water skiing, traveling around the world with his wife, photography, collecting various items, and the many projects at the “House of Daust” on the lake. He equipped his kids to succeed in life by teaching them practical & invaluable lessons from a young age. Much of his knowledge and skills were learned from his grandfather, John Pospeshil. He loved his wife who he met on a city bus in St. Louis. They fell in love and are the loving patriarchs of an incredible family that has grown and flourished. He and Dotsy took their kids camping, following ski tournaments and shows, as well as wonderful family vacations all throughout their 60 years of marriage. They held family in high regard and visited their children’s grandparents and great-grandparents nearly every week, driving across the Mississippi River to Cahokia, IL. When he had to go train other workers or participate in continuing education, he wouldn’t go alone, instead, he would take his family and camp out near the paper company so the family could site see and enjoy the time together. He was excellent at preparing big meals for his big family including his famous “buffalo,” Sunday pancakes, and a southern specialty, low-country boil. He enjoyed photography and even set up a dark room in their home. Devotion to family and community was demonstrated by driving their boat for early morning ski practices, followed by a long work day, only to finish the day with his family back on the lake for more practice. After driving the boat countless hours, he often took a turn skiing and producing thrilling rooster tails across the lake.
In his last days, he still supervised projects, prepared special breakfasts, and superb coffee concoctions. He was a collector of many things. Among his various collections, are mortar and pestles from many countries, numerous coins, a variety of guns and knives, as well as many things he saved for just the right upcoming project. Most recently, he and Dottie weathered Hurricane Helene and the repairs that followed. Throughout his life he did everything with excellence, even when he had to endure radiation treatments for cancer, hyperbaric oxygen sessions for a diabetic foot ulcer, injuries, and other health struggles.
The family would like to thank all of their friends and family near and far that have reached out and supported them during this time and particularly the compassionate, kindhearted, and sympathetic staff at Community Hospice in Vidalia. The family will gather privately to commemorate his life at a later date.
There are so many fond memories and wonderful friends that they have made through the many years of life. He is remembered as an incredibly loving and good husband, a dad who would do anything for his kids, and as a very generous grandfather. He was the boss and enjoyed being in charge and he wanted to be remembered as a good husband, father and person, however, his life exemplified so much more than that!
