John C. "Jack" Hymel

John C. “Jack” Hymel, age 80, husband of Sylvia, nee Struve, devoted father of John (Lorrie), Shari (James) Erwin and Judith Anne (James) Lonteen; loving grandfather of Jonathan, Adam, Ashley, Stephanie, Samantha, David, Bradley, Rebecca and Brian; great grandfather of Alex; loving companion for many years of Greta Adams. John will also be missed by his little canine buddy, Cleo. John was a dedicated member of the Brookfield Police Department for 35 years, serving as Chief of Police for 13 years. He later served Indian Head Park as Chief of Police for 4 years. Jack was a US Navy submarine veteran of the Korean War. Memorial Visitation will be held Saturday, November 24, 2012 from 3:00 pm until time of Memorial Service 6:00 pm at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home, 5015 Lincoln Ave., Lisle (on Rt. 53, ½ mile south of Ogden Ave. / Rt. 34). In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to American Cancer Society, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Ste 1210, Chicago, IL 60601 or at www.cancer.org To celebrate Jack’s life, visit

www.Blake-LambFuneralHome.com. For info, call 630-964-9392.

When someone is identified as a natural leader, certain images come to mind. First thoughts are of a no-nonsense, tough-minded, dedicated and disciplined person. This description accurately fits John C. "Jack" Hymel who was indeed a born manager. He will be remembered as being highly organized, practical and realistic. He was a person who always carried a strong sense of duty with him throughout his life. Possessed with traditional “old school” morals, John was an individual who clearly communicated to those around him just who he was and what he was all about. Everyone acquainted with John knew him as a well-respected man who was a stable force in his community.

John was born on January 22, 1932. He was adopted out of a hospital in Bloomington, IL at 11 months of age. His parents were Ann & John Hymel. John was raised in LaGrange, IL. Even as a youngster, John learned to be objective and decisive. His faith in the principles of authority and dependability was something that he carried with him throughout his life.

John's matter-of-fact attitude about most things was developed during his childhood. As a young boy, John enjoyed being part of teams and organizations and groups of other kids who shared similar interests. John took part in baseball and basketball. He was a boy scout. In his spare time he liked horses, dogs, animals in general.

In school, John was as close to being a model student as one could possibly imagine. He sought to achieve perfect attendance in all of his classes. He would eagerly complete his homework, and often put in extra study time when he felt it was necessary. A logical and focused thinker, John was always good at following directions and meeting his schedules, whether they were set by his teachers or were self-imposed. John’s personal motto could well have been, “Do it right the first time.” He graduated from Lyons Township (LTHS) in 1950. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was sports.

John’s practical work ethic carried over into his adult years. His logical mind permitted him to work hard. He would tackle an assignment and work through it before moving onto the next project. John’s orderly nature gave way to establishing personal habits that not only helped him stay on track but often put him ahead of schedule. When John saw the need or benefit, he would willingly take on the extra assignment or even attend extra classes in order to learn more and become a better student. He went to COD "college in the clouds" and later attended Triton College to earn his Associates Degree in Political Science. His favorite courses were ones involving criminal justice. He held down a full time job on the police department while attending night classes to earn his degree.

John was sociable and approachable. Because he was always so straightforward in how he approached relationships, friends and family knew that what they saw was always what they got. He enjoyed the camaraderie of being with a group of friends. When John was a member of a group, his interaction worked to keep the others grounded. He wasn’t afraid to confront his friends and, when necessary, he challenged them to stick to the task at hand. Those close to John came to expect his high standards of performance. While growing up, some of his best friends were Paul Brooks, Stan Nash, Norb Kocman, and Mary Fellows, who tried to keep John organized at school by cleaning his desk because in her words, he was a "messy little fellow." Later in life, he became friends with Tony Bresnahan, John Debnar, Elmer Rude, Tom Byrd, Herb Livermore, George Graves, Don Urban, Harland and Delores Keppel.

An objective and conscientious individual, John reveled in the security of his family. On September 3, 1955 John exchanged wedding vows with Sylvia Anne Struve. One of John’s most endearing qualities was his uncanny ability to remember important dates and anniversaries, and his unending enthusiasm for organizing a celebration for his family and friends.

John was ever watchful of his children. He worried about them and was deeply concerned for their development as they grew up. He maintained a firm hand in their upbringing. John would give his stamp of approval to their requests, as long as he could see how they might benefit. He also had the ability to enforce the rules as needed to ensure that his children were properly raised. John was blessed with 3 children, a son, John, and daughters Shari & Judy. He was also blessed with 9 Grandchildren, Johnathan, Adam, Ashley, Stephanie, Samantha, David, Bradley, Rebecca, Brian, and Great Grandson Alex.

Being a hard worker who praised efficiency, John was always striving to make improvements where they were necessary. He was able to analyze situations and problems, keeping everything and everyone on track. An excellent project supervisor, John was a person who could quickly make decisions based on the information available. He worked cooperatively and expected the same from his colleagues. In both his personal and professional environments, John upheld his standards. His primary occupation was Law Enforcement. He was employed for 35 years at the Brookfield Police Department and later with the Indian Head Park Police Deparment for 4 years. John was a team player who certainly lived out the motto of “give me a job, and I will get it done.”

John served in the Navy. His sense of duty helped lead him into the military where his understanding of rank, his willingness to abide by rules and regulations and his desire to follow orders was admired by his fellow service men and women. From 1951-1955 he served on the submarines Pomodon and Ramora, based out of San Diego, CA in the Korean War. John served 4 years during the Korean conflict. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of Fireman First Class.

John approached his leisure time in the same manner that he approached his life. A person who enjoyed and understood the nature of things, he appreciated the hours he was able to devote to his various hobbies. His favorite pursuits were golf, flying, woodworking, crossword puzzles and spending time with family and friends. John was content to enjoy his favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share his interests with others, especially 4 o'clock happy hour with special friends in Arizona.

Playing by the rules was a natural thing for John to do in life and that carried over to his enjoyment of sports. In high school, John played baseball, basketball and football. Recreational sports included baseball, golf and jogging (before his knee replacements). He also was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. John loved all sports. If there was a ball involved he watched it on TV!

Being generous with his time and energy, John liked to belong to a variety of groups and organizations in his earlier years.. John was an active member in his local community serving as the Chief of Police in Brookfield, IL; coaching his son's baseball teams at Elhert Park; serving at a Deacon at his church; and being a member of the International Assocation of Chiefs of Police.

He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Brookfield for many years. During that time, he served as a Deacon. He also drove the school bus and helped out with whatever other jobs needed to be completed at the school.

As someone who placed a high value on showing gratitude, John could graciously accept a “thank you” extended to him by those he helped. However, individual recognition wasn’t a motivating force for John; rather, when he saw that there was a need to get something done, he was more than willing to give his time and energy in order to see it accomplished. Some of his most prestigious awards included being a graduate of the 106th Sessions of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, specifically for police officers, Certificate of Appreciation from the United States Secret Service, and "Man of The Year"+ from the Brookfield Chamber of Commerce in 1992.

When it came time to travel or take a vacation, John used his scheduling expertise to make sure everyone and everything was ready to go. That also meant that he made certain no single person was overworked in putting the trip together. John had a knack for making sure that everyone who was involved had their specific tasks and that those tasks were completed. Favorite vacations included spending time in Phoenix, AZ. He also enjoyed driving to see his children and grandchildren in Florida and Texas. He loved exploring the United States by car and visiting our National Treasurers including The Grand Canyon, Yellowstone Park, The Grand Tetons, Mt. Rushmore and Gettysburg. He also enjoyed life on the high seas, taking several destination cruises in the Carribbean.

John was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of John’s favorites was his adorable dog, Cleo. They were best friends since John got her as a pup 12 years ago. John has had several pets throughout his life. He had a poodle named Cocoa and a black lab named Muffy.

When John retired from the Brookfield Police Department in September, 1993, he was well prepared. He used his critical evaluation skills to make sure that every detail had been preplanned and attended to. John spent several of the winter months in Phoenix and the rest of the year in his home in Darien. In retirement, he found new pleasure in playing golf whenever he wanted and building model planes. He also enjoyed getting to finally finish various woodworking projects around the house. In many ways, John loved retirement. It provided him with the opportunity to catch up with his friends, and try new, interesting activities.

John passed away on November 17, 2012 at La Grange Memorial Hospital, with Greta by his side. John passed away from complications from emphysema and congestive heart failure. He is survived by his children John, Shari and Judy; grandchildren Jonathan, Adam, Ashley, Stephanie, Samantha, David, Bradley, Rebecca and Brian; great grandchild Alex; loving companion Greta and faithful dog Cleo. Services will be held at Blake Lamb Funeral Home in Lisle.

All who knew him would agree that John was a pillar of the community. He lived his life with his feet firmly on the ground. He had a strong work ethic, was pragmatic in his thoughts and acts, and constantly sought the means for self-improvement. He was willing to share his ideas and knowledge for the benefit of others, so that they could accomplish more in their lives. John C. "Jack" Hymel did his best to ensure that his family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, and everyone whose life he touched was given the chance to become a better person.