John W. Hipelius, Jr.

John was born on June 15, 1939, the son of John Sr. and Deborah Hipelius (nee Foley). He grew up in Chicago, IL and Skokie, IL, alongside his brothers, Thomas and James, and graduated from St. George High School in Evanston, IL.

He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force until 1966. Following his military service, John began a career as an electrical engineer with Honeywell, retiring in 1998. He continued to work with 3Com and later returned to Honeywell as a contract engineer until 2009. In addition to his engineering career, he also worked as a wedding photographer, capturing joyful moments for countless couples over the years.

John met the love of his life, Jacqueline, in August 1967. They were married on September 27, 1969, at St. Mary of the Angels Church in Chicago and moved to Niles, IL. A few years later, they moved to Prospect Heights, where they raised their family and made their home for the past 53 years. They were longtime members of St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church.

John’s first priority was always his family. He was a devoted dad and Grampy, a steady presence, and a quiet hero. He served as an active leader in Scouting and loved teaching the kids everything from outdoor cooking to mechanical skills, always finding joy in showing how things worked—and how to fix them when they didn’t. Camping and ladybug picnics with his family were weekend favorites.

His favorite hobbies included home improvement, reading, watching movies, and photography. In addition to his part-time work as a wedding photographer, he loved capturing everyday moments—family gatherings, vacations, and nature scenes—with his well-used Nikon F1. He even developed his own film in a darkroom he set up at home, taking pride in the full creative process from behind the lens to the finished print. At home, there was always a new project underway—construction, remodeling, or repairs. And when he wasn’t working with his hands, he was reading, often flipping through the pages of National Geographic, to which he was a longtime subscriber.

He will be remembered for his quiet strength, strong will, loving devotion, and generous heart.

John is survived by his beloved wife, Jacqueline Hipelius (nee Cassell); his children, Jeff (Amy) Hipelius of Crystal Lake, IL and Kimberly (Todd) Bartelt of Prospect Heights, IL; his cherished grandchildren, Sean, Lucas, and Mackenzie; his brothers, Thomas (Vivien) Hipelius and James Hipelius; his sister-in-law, Susan (Frank) McQuade; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John Sr. and Deborah Hipelius (nee Foley).

Family will be receiving guests from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Friday, April 11, 2025 at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N Arlington Heights Rd, Arlington Heights, IL 60004. A Funeral Mass will take place at 1:30 PM on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at St. Alphonsus Liguori, 411 N. Wheeling Rd, Prospect Heights, IL 60070. Interment will be private.

Memorial donations in John’s name may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or click the link further down to contribute electronically.