John graduated from St. Ambrose University (BA) in 1962 and received his M.S. from Northern Illinois University in 1972. He then graduated from Worsham School of Mortuary Science in 1977. While attending mortuary school he worked at Clancy Funeral Home in Kankakee. He worked there for two years prior to buying Foley Mortuary in 1978. He was elected Knox County Coroner for 4 terms starting in 1988. The Watson family successfully ran Watson Funeral Home for almost 32 years.  John and Peg sold the funeral home to long time employee Mark Thomas and his wife Tricia in late 2009.


John and his wife Peggy have 5 grown children: Jim (and Sheryl), Dr. John (and Lori), Josh, Molly (and Brian), and Jordan and numerous grandchildren.

He has been a member of several community service clubs. He coached basketball at Costa School for 15 years. He served on the board at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church and is currently a board member of Tompkins State Bank. He is also on the National Board of Directors for the American Red Cross Tissue Services Division.