He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Karen, and his son, John, and is survived by his loving daughters, Mary Jasionowski and Susan Watts, his sister, Virginia Grembla, and his grandchildren, Nicholas, Sofia and Bogdan Monahan.
He was born November 29, 1937 in Chicago, attended Kelvyn Park High School and graduated from Chicago Teachers College in 1959. "Mr. Jay" was a highly regarded Chicago Public School teacher for thirty-five years. An avid theater lover, he also enjoyed acting and had supporting and starring roles in many Chicago Park District plays, including several at the iconic Theater on the Lake. During his tenure at Yates Upper Grade Center, in addition to his regular class load, he directed student plays and published a nationally awarded school newspaper. He was an active member of the Chicago Teachers Union and served as a delegate for many years. During his retirement he served on the board of the Des Plaines History Center from 1999-2009, and has been the president of the Des Plaines Friends of the Library for over five years. A generous, dutiful and civic-minded man, John will be greatly missed.
Please join his family in celebrating his full and wonderful life. Visitation will be held on Friday, September 21 from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Oehler Funeral Home, 2099 Miner Street, Des Plaines, 60016, where family and friends will gather on Saturday at 9:15 am for prayers prior to going to St. Mary's Church, Prairie at Pearson Sts. in Des Plaines, for a 10:00 am Mass. Interment at St Joseph Cemetery.
For further information call (847) 824-5155 or www.oehlerfuneralhome.com
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