Obituaries

John A. Garda, age 95, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at his home at The Reserve of Geneva in Geneva, Illinois.

John was born Giovanni Albert Garda, the son of Italian immigrants Domenico Garda, born April 16, 1889, in Aliano, Italy, and Pierina Testore, born May 17, 1899, in Garda, Italy.

John grew up in Chicago during the Great Depression. After his father died, John was raised by his hardworking mother, Pierina, alongside his two sisters, Yolanda and Teresa. Those early years, shaped by family, hard work, perseverance, and the sacrifices of a single mother raising three children, became part of the foundation of the man John would become.

On June 15, 1957, John married Patricia Laura Fuller in Cook County, Illinois. John and Pat shared more than 61 years of marriage before her death on October 20, 2018.

Together, John and Patt welcomed four children within a four-year span: Dave Garda (Rennie), Susan Shepherd (Bill), Linda Berg (Bill), and Joy Ganster (Gary).

John is also survived by his grandchildren: Rebekah Tate; Jonathan Garda (Alyx); Mark Shepherd (Bethany); Matthew Shepard (Khyrstin); Daniel Berg (Stacey); Alex Berg (Amy); Jordan Berg; Samantha Berg; Luke (Noah); and Sarah Ganster; as well as his great-grandchildren.

John proudly served his country in the United States military, receiving an honorable discharge on August 31, 1961. During his military service in the Korean War era, John worked in the financial department and was also trained and certified with a bazooka.

John possessed an extraordinary aptitude for finances and accounting. He began his professional career as an auditor and CPA with Haskins & Sells and later enjoyed a long and distinguished career with International Harvester, later renamed International. He worked first at the company’s engine plant in Melrose Park, Illinois, and later at its corporate headquarters in downtown Chicago.

During his career, John served in accounting, auditing, tax accounting, and corporate financial leadership. At the time of his retirement, he had served as a corporate controller and president of the company’s overseas division. John’s career required a long daily commute and extensive periods overseas, taking him to every continent, but his family never came second.

John continued his education throughout his career, first at DePaul University and later receiving his MBA from the University of Chicago in 1969, followed by the Executive Leadership Program at Harvard University.

But John’s life cannot be summarized by his education, career accomplishments, or financial expertise.

John loved God. He treasured his daily time reading God’s Word, the Bible, and he loved his family.

Those who knew John also knew his remarkable kindness. For all his intelligence, competence, and professional accomplishment, he remained an exceptionally gentle and caring man. His family remembers him simply as one of the kindest souls to ever walk planet Earth.

And John was loyal—sometimes remarkably so. He was a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, regardless of their win-loss record. Through good seasons and bad ones, his loyalty never wavered.

Above all, John’s legacy lives in the people he loved: his wife, Pat; their four children and their spouses; his grandchildren; his 11 great-grandchildren; and the generations of family who had the privilege of calling him Dad and Grandpa.

Funeral Services

Visitation will be held Wednesday, September 30, 2026, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. at:

Yurs Funeral Home — Geneva

1771 West State Street

Geneva, Illinois

A brief time of remembrance and prayer will be held at approximately 10:20 a.m.

Following the visitation, family and friends will process to St. Patrick Catholic Church in downtown St. Charles, Illinois, where John’s Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m.

Memorial Gifts

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John’s memory to the not-for-profit mission work of:

Cadre Missionaries

P.O. Box 278

Sycamore, IL 60178

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