Peter A Pekkarinen

Age 64, a native resident of Waukegan, IL died peacefully on March 1, 2012, at Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital surrounded by family and friends. Peter was born on July 26, 1947 and lived his entire life within the Waukegan community.

Peter graduated from Waukegan High School in 1965 and attended Illinois State University where he achieved a degree in Education. Later he obtained a masters degree in Administration from Roosevelt University. Peter retired from Antioch Community High School after 33 years of service as a dedicated teacher of mathematics and drivers education. Peter spent his life devoted to being a loving son, husband, father, father-in-law, and grandfather.

Peter is survived by his wife Linda (nee Jenkins); children Drew (Amy) and Dana; grandchildren Emma and Elizabeth; mother Catherine; mother-in-law Dorothea Jenkins, brothers Michael (Beatrice), Douglas (JoAnne), and Patrick (Andrea); brothers-in-law James (Barbara) Jenkins, Jr. and Thomas Jenkins; sister-in-law Kathleen (Kevin) Halligan; and many nieces and nephews.

Peter was preceded in death by his father Olaf Pekkarinen of Waukegan, father-in-law James H. Jenkins of Gurnee, and uncle Albert Blaha of Waukegan.

Visitation for Peter will be held at Marsh Funeral Home in Gurnee, IL, on Friday, March 9 from 3 to 9pm and Saturday, March 10, from 9 to 10am. The funeral mass will begin at 10:30am on Saturday, March 10 at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Gurnee. He will be laid to rest at Ascension Cemetery in Libertyville, IL.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in his name–1500 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 877.272.6226 or www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/peterpekkarinen/KeeptheMemoryAlive