John F. Englehart, 92, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on February 25th, 2023, in LaGrange, Illinois. He was born in Chicago to Loretta and Frederick Englehart and graduated from Oak Park River Forest High School and St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana.

For many years, he and his brother Bill owned and operated Pelican Plastic Packaging Co. in Northlake, Illinois. His favorite place was Green Lake, Wisconsin, where his family owned a cottage. He loved fishing, even though catches were often few and far between. If he did catch anything, he threw it back because he, like his daughters, couldn’t stomach the idea of killing and cleaning the fish.

A devout Catholic, he attended mass daily and generously gave his time and resources to many charities throughout his life. With fellow parishioners at St. John of the Cross in Western Springs, he initiated a chapter of the St. Vincent DePaul Society, which serves the poor. Despite his huge fear of flying, he went on pilgrimages to Medjugorje, Bosnia, and Achill Island in Ireland. He was joined on these pilgrimages by his nephew, Daniel Bachner. His personality is best summed up as “all worry, all heart” but with the onset of Alzheimer’s, the worries disappeared, and he became “all sweetness, no worries.” He was much loved by the nurses and staff in Memory Care for his kind demeanor, unique dance moves, and silly and endearing facial expressions once he lost the ability to speak.

He was preceded in death by his brother William Englehart (Joanne) and sister Mary Lou (James) Bachner. He leaves his wife, Mary, and four daughters, Julie Kittridge (Andrew), Katy Englehart, Elizabeth Englehart, Michele Englehart (Richard Campbell), seven grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Misericordia.

Visitation Tuesday, February 28^th from 10am until time of Funeral Mass, 10:45am at St. Raphael Catholic Church, 1215 Modaff Rd., Naperville. Interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside will follow. Funeral information: 708-352-6500