Richard J Kancilja

Rick was very talented and had a passion for entertaining people, beginning at a very young age. When he saw magicians on TV he become fascinated by them, so he was determined to become a magician himself, and acquired a lot of magic tricks of his own, entertaining countless friends and family members on many occasions throughout the course of his lifetime. He was also known for his musical talents. He played guitar and was a vocalist in numerous rock bands throughout the years. He was very good at what he did, and loved every minute of it. He enjoyed spending quiet time on his computer, but also enjoyed attending concerts and outdoor festivals. Some of his favorite bands include The Beatles, The Ides of March, Boston, The Doobie Brothers, and New Colony Six, to mention just a few. He was a fan of Svengoolie, liked Batman movies and Clint Eastwood movies, and watching reruns of the Superman TV series.

He is survived by his best friend and fiancée, Terri Eckard; daughter, Melissa Johnson; granddaughters, Caroline (Tyler) Watkins, and Madison (Kyle) Pack; great granddaughter, Aurora Rose Watkins; brother, Robert Kancilja; sister, Darlene Benigno; and fur babies, Sabrina and Aubrey. He was preceded in death by his infant brother James Kancilja; parents Anton Kancilja and Bertie Baruffi; and fur babies; Natalie, Angel, Snuggles, Shadow, and Sarah. He was dearly loved for who he was, and will be greatly missed.

Friends and family will gather for a celebration of Rick's life that will be held at Quonset Pizza, 2602 Grand Avenue, Waukegan, Illinois on Saturday, February 17th, 2024 from 12 - 4pm.

If you wish to make a donation, the family requests that it be made to Wright-Way Rescue.Org, or a charity of your choice, in memory of Rick Kancilja.