John H. Elder brings a special degree of experience to the clients of Meyer Capel. Prior to joining the firm in 1978, he was manager of planned services for Country Life Insurance Company (1972-74) and a vice-president and trust officer for Bank of Illinois (1974-78).

John Elder received a bachelor of science in industrial management from Purdue University in 1969 and a juris doctorate from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1972. Through the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, he has attended courses in estate planning, real estate and corporate and business law.

John Elder is a member of the Illinois State and Champaign County Bar Associations and is a past president of the East Central Illinois Estate Planning Council. He has served as an instructor for several estate planning classes offered through Parkland College.

John was a board member of the Community Foundation of Champaign County. From 1972-80, he served as a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve.

He enjoys attending athletic and cultural events at the University of Illinois.

He and his wife, Lois, are the parents of four children: Barbie, Mike, Susan and Patrick.