John “Jack” R. Gleason
John (Jack) R. Gleason, a/k/a “BF”, age 76, husband to Rosemary, nee Rynne, for over 51 years, Dad of Tamara (Michael) Miller, Moira (Mitch) Staggs, Erin (Desi) Leyba, and Sheilah (Kevin) Wasielewski, Grandpa to Kevin, Jacob, Leo, Emmett, Erica, Alayna, Keenan, Sienna, Kendra, Brooks, Blake, Aubrey, and the late Noah, and brother of Maureen (Lee) Fischer, and the late Marie (William) VonderHeide and Virginia (Gus) Zakes, passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 29, 2019, after a day surrounded by his family. Jack was a lot like Tigger in that he had a lot of bounce and playfulness. He never missed a chance to dance or swim with Rosemary, who was the love of his life. Jack’s enthusiasm for his four daughters was boundless. He was their champion, confidant, coach, teacher, and friend. Jack loved playing cards, hearing the scoop, captaining his boat, being Up North, coaching softball, watching the White Sox, and spending time with his family and many longtime friends. Jack built his own successful business, NuToys, and he found joy in peddling playgrounds for a living. In the late 1960s, he was a community organizer who helped found Sweat Associates, which created jobs for unemployed folks. Jack was a terrific man who will be forever missed. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to: Pillars Community Health, 23 Calendar Ave, La Grange, IL 60525. Visitation 3:00 to 9:00 PM Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at Hallowell & James Funeral Home, 1025 W. 55th St., Countryside. Chapel prayers 9:00 AM Thursday, October 3, 2019 from the funeral home to 10:00 AM Mass at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, LaGrange. Interment private. For further info: 708-352-6500
Love and miss this great man. He will be forever remembered in our hearts.
Chuck and Lyn Vlcek
Rosemary and Daughters,
Sue and I were so saddened to hear the news of Jack’s passing. Please know that we send our deepest sympathy and warmest regards. We are so sorry for your loss. This wonderful guy was taken far too soon, even though as a cancer patient myself, I know that recent months had to be tough on Jack and the family.
What an extraordinary, one-of-a-kind character! A true mold-breaker! I have so many great memories of the B.F., his warm smile and his antics from Quigley, Niles and Mundelein. They will be cherished – all but the time he called me out on strikes in a Quigley softball championship game.
Sue and I so much appreciated your warm hospitality extended to us “reunioners” at you home on several occasions.
Know that we will keep Jack, you and the family in our thoughts and in our prayers in the coming days and months.
Sue and Jack Collins
Rose my deepest sympathies. Jack was a super husband, father, friend. And he could cook too. Many years of great conversations. May he Rest In Peace for a job well done.
So sorry for Jack’s family because a “true giant” has just died. Unfortunately we will be in Washington DC for the wake and funeral. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Rosemary & Family!
So sorry to hear the sad news of Jack’s passing! Kevin & I will miss Jack’s many stories and wonderful sense of humor and we so enjoyed our Sunset Sail cruises with you both in Aruba!
Sending our deepest sympathies to you & family & keeping you in our thoughts & prayers!
Kevin & Susie Zoellick
Watertown, WI
Sorry for the loss of a playful,kind,thoughtful,generous soul. Hard to believe his warm greeting wont be there any more. Whenever he was asked how he was,his response was always “Super” He will be sorely missed
Sorry to hear the news.
Jack was a great man who will surely be missed by all.
He was a icon in the playground industry! He taught us all a lot about playgrounds and life. My condolences go out to the family from all of us at Dakota Fence.
Dave Currier
Funerals are about loss, and I commiserate with your loss; but my comments
are for Jack.
Thank you for sense of truthfulness which led me to a self awareness; thank you for you political stalwartness which led me to maintain my belief in equality; thank you for your trust in family which allow me to accept that my own family were doing their best.
Yes… very much agree. He was a great teacher. from Maureen (Jack’s sister(
Many tears we have for this great friend we met in Aruba for the first time. We took many sunset sails with you and you found where they go we will see you there someday. Love never ends . Mike & Bev
Rosemary, just four months ago, Jack and I talked. “How ya doin?” “I’ve been better?” There was no sad.
Just, as always!, glad to hear your voice. “Where have you been,, you xxxxx,” My beloved Jack. Ever the glib tongue sharing cheers and shouts of more, more, faster, faster. What a teammate. What a friend.
Most of all, Rosemary and girls, Jack is a true ANAM CARA! A privilege to be his classmate, his teammate, and eternally his ANAM CARA. Blessings Bill
Rosemary n family,
so sorry to hear that your hubby passed away, may God bless you & keep you in his arms doing the days ahead,
We are deeply saddened to hear of his passing. Having spent nearly 30 years playing cards and volleyball with Jack, it will be difficult to make our annual return to La Grange and my not having a game or usual breakfast with him. Our prayers are with your family at this time of mourning and celebration of his life.
There’s a reason that Jack’s seminary classmates call him the BF. He was a Big Fellow in every good meaning of those words. We will all miss his larger-than-life character and especially his big heart. As an A Number One people-watcher, Jack will really enjoy Heaven. God and the saints are smiling and laughing with him right now.
Jack was a great father – a true role model for how to raise happy, successful children.
I was deeply saddened and truly shocked to learn of Jack’s passing.
Our family extends its prayers and sincerest condolences to Jack’s beautiful family.
The Big Fella was a person who reflected the very best that was our Quigley class
that graduated in 1961. He was a wonderful classmate, full of good humor and serious
too. In so many ways he was “bigger than life!”
I have so many found memories of Jack. One for example: In our history class with
Father Rudcki we did occasional humorous skits. In one, Jack introduced things
by playing a solemn Alfred Hitchcock who gravely intoned the words he spoke
each week on his TV show. He broke up the class!
Later on after our seminary days we met in Milwaukee. Jack was busy promoting
his wonderful tot lots here. He was also working hard to push for social justice in
a town that needed a kick into the 20th century. Thanks to people like Jack, Milwaukee
is a different place today.
That was Jack Gleason – an unforgettable human being!
Don Pienkos
Rosemary and family, Tony and I send our deepest thoughts and prayers. Jack was one of the nicest person I ever met. That welcoming smile, the big hug, always calling you by your name, that great stong voice and always making you feel welcomed. A man that will truly be missed by so many. God BLESS him and may he rest in peace.
Rosemary and Daughters , Linise & i are deeply sadden in give our deepest sympathy, when we got the news that Jack health was felling our days & nights has been spent thinking & praying for him. Anyone who knew Jack know he loved the Green bay packers , Linise & i love the Bears ,this year they played each other the 1st game of the season 3 weeks ago ,listen.. for the 1st time since me & my wife became Chicago Bear fans together 25 years ago.
We never ever hoped the Bears would loose, EVER! But this year we did ,cause we knew Jack was watching .. ” Yes ” the Packers Won! But Jack always win look at his wife & kids he was a winner , Jack made everyone feel like they had a voice ,what a Great Husband Father Boss friend & Human being rest in peace Jack you will be missed !
Rosemary and family,
So sorry for your loss of this extraordinary man. He was remarkable- outgoing, creative, and great businessman, husband and father. Prayers for comfort and strength for you all.
I consider myself very lucky to have had an opportunity to know Jack for the last 20+ years. Many people have a public side and a private side but with Jack they were one in the same. Jack had a way to make you feel special and unique and truly listened, cared, and remembered about anyone whose life he touched. He was humble and competitive, playful and hardworking but above all he truly understood the balance between work and family which is so hard for a lot of us. I saw and read the list from his daughters of things learned from Jack and over the many years I have known him, I have learned many other Jackisms that will be with me forever. He lived them. He was that light for me in the time of grief and trouble. He will remain in my heart and memory for my lifetime because I believe a person like Jack comes into you life only once, if you’re lucky. RIP Jack. Love and miss you. Thank you for allowing me to be a small part of your life.
He was, as so many others have commented, a delightful, filled-with-life-to-the-brim man. He grasped the idea of “frisk and the bounce.” We needed him back in the day in Milwaukee, and now more than ever. “You down? You ready?” I follow my own deep path in the incredible depths of the high Mojave – partly, I think, because of the Gleason lessons learned. Say hi to Eddie (worked with us sometimes) – and I’ll see you there.❤️
I am sorry for your loss I never had the privilege of meeting your husband, however in reading what people had to say I wish that I would of had. I know he will be forever in your heart. Sounds like he will be missed by all. Our prayers are with you and your family.
I’m heartbroken over Jack’s passing – He will always be remembered as one of the original play “shapers” and as the pioneer for “Finding the Fun” – His legacy through NuToys and his children will continue to leave a positive impact for generations.