John Andrew Bill Bavetz

The son of Andrew (Andre Bavec) and Mary (Adlesic) Bavetz, John knew joy from the time he was born on a cold January day on the south side of Chicago, IL. Number nine of eleven kids, John was raised surrounded by love and humor. John’s brothers and sisters were not just family, they were also his best friends. John is survived by his sisters Margie (Smith) and Dolores (Wojtisiak) and sister-in-law Lucille Bavetz.

John loved a good story, a fun adventure, and a lively song. If you sat still long enough, he was bound to tell you a story about a fun adventure he had lived or sing you a favorite song. He told the story of how he and his brothers stayed warm in the winter by sharing beds and running down to the kitchen to get dressed next to the stove. The stories of going to the bar to get his dad an actual bucket of beer and riding the trolley to see a movie with his sister Margie. He told Stories of his time in the Air Force and the places he went: Okinawa, Alaska, Guam, and Oklahoma. Oklahoma, where he met Barbara Joe Holt and a whole new adventure began.

John and Barbara married in August 1958 and their family flourished over the next six years with the births of their children: Theresa Lynn (Steve Schlater), Laura Ann, Alice Katherine (Robert Peisert), Andrew Joseph (Julie), and Diana Kay.

John was blessed with 13 grandchildren: Phil, Danielle, Nick, Jim, Brian, Kenny, Joe, Cody, John (Gretel), Katie (Ben), Abi, Bryan, Brandon and 6 great grandchildren: Uriah, Jaden, Anthony, Ila, Easton and Averi Mae.

Before retiring to Mesa, AZ John lived in McHenry, Illinois while working at Illinois Range and Piper Plastics. His retirement offered him the opportunity to spend more time with his family and friends doing the things he enjoyed most. John was happiest when he was spending time with his family and friends. You could often find him playing cards with his sisters, going to the track with his brothers, shooting pool with his grandson Joe or teaching his great grandson Easton how to shoot marbles.

On December 10 John left us to be with Barbara, his wife of nearly 65 years, whom he had dearly missed since her passing in June of this year. People who knew John described him as one of the kindest and most generous men they knew. He will be deeply missed.

John was preceded in death by his wife Barbara, his parents, sisters Frances Flicek, Mary, Annie Redensek, Julie Koffend; his brothers Eddie, Frankie, Andy, and Tony; and his grandson Nick.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mariposagardens.com for the Bavetz family.