Johann J. Kaiser

Johann “John” “Hans” Joachim Kaiser left this world as he lived in it – on his own terms. He passed away from respiratory failure on October 21, 2022, two months shy of his 97th birthday at JourneyCare Hospice in Arlington Heights, IL.

Born in Hofgastein, Austria in 1925, he was the son of Clothilde DeVos (nee Rautenkranz) and Rudolph Kaiser. Johann’s sister, Ingrid Rosenfeld of Glencoe, IL preceded him in death. In 1948 Johann married Eva Sybil Herzfeld in Amsterdam, Holland, both having survived a harrowing and tumultuous number of teenage years during the Nazi occupation of Holland during WWII. After Eva’s death in 2010, John later married Carmen T. McCann of Mt. Prospect (deceased in 2017) in 2010.

Johann is survived by his children, Ray Kaiser (Beckie Poucher), Edwin Kaiser (Donna nee DeBusk); grandchildren Kathryn Kaiser, Jay Kaiser (Mandy Carter), Valerie Kaiser Phillips (Jeff Lund) and Pieter Kaiser; great-grandchildren Hannah Phillips, Taylor Phillips, Kennedy Lund and Amelia Kaiser.

Immigrating to the US in 1957, John worked hard to provide for his family, having both a full time job and additional part time jobs, all the while looking for an opportunity to express his independence and start his own business. Opportunity knocked in 1972 when he launched Polyline Corp. which grew steadily and turned into the family business, employing his wife and children. John was singularly focused on providing a good life for his family and Polyline was both his vocation and avocation. John had a limited formal education but was a lifelong self-taught student with a vast knowledge of history, economics, politics and much more. More than one interaction with service providers over the years assumed he was a PhD! He loved to read and greatly enjoyed a good pun. Passionate about business, he was a mentor to many people along the way.

He was a member of the Ethical Humanist Society and was involved in many causes, usually behind the scenes. Privately, he helped many less fortunate people.

Driven, compassionate, intelligent, independent; these are just a few words to describe Johann J. Kaiser.

John had a soft side too, even if he kept it hidden in public. He loved music and DJ’ed dance parties for residents of the Norwood Park home. He was often funny, too. He was Dad, Opa (grandfather) and a husband (Hans), a mentor and a fine example of kind and ethical leadership with employees and business associates. He was the Kaiser family patriarch and will be deeply missed.

A Celebration of Life gathering honoring our father will be on December 10, 2022 from 1 - 3pm at The Heller Nature Center | 2821 Ridge Rd. Highland Park, IL 60035.