Obituaries
John G. Vanko
August 31, 1937 - April 12, 2021
- Due to coronavirus outbreak the family will not hold a visitation.
- Funeral
- April 20, 2021 | 10:30 A.M.
-
St. Patrick Crane Road Church
6N491 Crane Road
St. Charles, Illinois 60175 -
Burial Location
Resurrection Catholic Cemetery, Geneva, Illinois
John G. Vanko, 83, of St. Charles, Illinois, passed away on April 12, 2021 after a 15-month battle against pancreatic cancer. He was surrounded and comforted by the prayers, tears, laughter, and love of his family.
John is survived by his high school sweetheart, best friend, and wife of 63 years, Martha (Pickerill), and two children, Kimberly Millet of Phoenix, Arizona and Kenneth (Karyn) Vanko of Batavia, Illinois; his brother, Richard (Nancy) Vanko of Streator, Illinois; five grandchildren, Austin Millet, Ross (Noriko) Millet, York Millet, Langdon Vanko, and Lincoln Vanko; and one great-grandson, Orson Millet.
In 1937, John was born to parents John and Louise (Rezen) Vanko in Streator, Illinois. He graduated from Streator High School in 1955, where he was a standout basketball player and held the school scoring record for ten years. After declining a tryout with the Chicago White Sox farm team, John attended Western Illinois University on a basketball scholarship. There, John received his Bachelor of Science (1959) and a Master of Science (1960). He then earned his Doctor of Education from Loyola University in 1973.
Throughout his life, John was devoted to education and to making a meaningful difference in the lives of students. At Joliet West High School, he taught history and mathematics and then later served as a counselor, dean, assistant principal, and principal. John became the Associate Superintendent for Community Unit School District 303 in St. Charles before earning the position of Superintendent in 1991.
Under John’s leadership, St. Charles High School received the 1994-1996 Blue Ribbon Excellence Award from the U.S. Department of Education. As Superintendent, John was instrumental in helping pass a $44 million referendum to build Wredling Middle School and a ninth-grade building on the Dunham Campus at St. Charles High School. The referendum that John helped pass allowed for District 303’s eventual expansion of a second high school, which now is known as St. Charles North.
After retiring in 1996, John joined Aurora University, where he taught graduate level education classes and coordinated the administrative internship program for the training of future school administrators at all levels. John taught for 13 years at Aurora University and eventually retired in 2008 as Associate Professor Emeritus at the College of Education.
Throughout his adult life, John was involved in many community activities. He served on the Delnor Community Hospital board of directors for ten years. John also volunteered his time with the United Way, Rotary Club of St. Charles (where he served as President), and youth sports organizations.
John was an avid golfer who celebrated four holes-in-one and, in one of his last rounds, shot his age of 81. He traveled extensively throughout Europe with Martha many times, including golf trips to Scotland and Ireland. John treasured memories of many other European travels where he enjoyed local culture, cuisine, and architecture, as well as visits to basilicas, cathedrals, and museums. At home, John was a frequent patron of sporting events, the Lyric Opera, and Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
John influenced many students, teachers, and administrators throughout his professional life. He treated all with kindness and empathy. He died at peace, with dignity and no regrets.
Funeral Mass will be held 10:30 A.M. April 20, 2021 at St. Patrick Crane Road Church, 6N491 Crane Road, St. Charles. Interment will follow immediately at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery, 37W210 Fabyan Parkway, Geneva. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the family will not hold a visitation. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made either to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the District 303 Education Foundation. For further information please call Yurs Funeral Home, St. Charles, 630-584-0060, or visit www.yursfuneralhomes.com
St. Patrick Catholic Church requires those attending the Funeral Mass to sign in on the attached link to preregister their attendance to the Funeral Mass.
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Condolences
Ted and Lynne Hardison from St. Charles, IL
"Grief only exists where love lived first. Our deepest sympathy!"
Mary Jo Wood from Austin, TX
"Uncle Jerry made a huge difference in my life and in the lives of many others. I’ve been blessed to have been touched by his life. In deepest sympathy, Mary Jo (Adams) Wood, daughter of Eula Pickerill."
John & MJ Rittenhouse from Bluffton, IL
"Wonderful memories will guide you to peace. We will miss John!"
Bob and Sue Paolicchi from Aurora, IL
"John was a great friend and mentor who will be truly missed."
Wilma Van Arragon and Bob Lindahl from Batavia , IL
"Rest In Peace John. You have left such a meaningful footprint on the lives of those you have touched. A life well lived."
Jane Thompson from Shelby, MI
"I will cherish my memories of my friend and colleague. Rest In Peace and know that you were loved by many."
Rebecca and Brian Reber from St .Charles, IL
"What an incredible man to work for. Dr. Vanko was truly one of a kind, a leader and a friend. Our deepest sympathies."
Mary Fasbender from At. Charles, IL
"Prayers and sadness for a great leader, husband and family man. He will be sorely missed, but his mark will remain on St. Charles education. John is now free of pain and for that we give thanks. 💖"
Raymond Erler from Sierra Madre, CA
"Good memories from high school days. Jerry made a difference in people’s lives wherever he was. He will have a new home with our Lord, and he will be missed by many still here."
Carol Vanko Spencer from Normal, IL
"Rest In Peace, offering my daily rosary for you and your family."
Rebecca Hubbs from St. Charles, IL
"Thank you Dr. Vanko for your caring leadership as my first Superintendent in D303 and later professor at Aurora University. I loved listening to you and Mr. Rogina tell stories in my School Law class. You will always be remembered with great respect!"
Kimberly Millet from Gilbert, AZ
"Good night, dear father."
Alice Henderson from Joliet, IL
"There are no words to express the sympathy I feel for you and your family at the loss of such a wonderful man. All of us who worked with him in Joliet considered him to be a tremendous colleague and friend."
Jennifer and Michael Amadei from Wayne , IL
"Dr. Vanko was one of our professors in grad school at Aurora; he made the learning interesting and fun. He was also my first superintendent when I began my teaching career at (then) St. Charles High School. Warmest condolences to your family."
Kimberly Millet from Gilbert, AZ
"Rest In Peace, Dad."
Sherry Eagle from Chicago, AK
"My sincere condolences on the death of this great educational leader. He ALWAYS put the students first in any education decision he made. It was my honor to call him a professional colleague. He will be missed."
Sherry Eagle from Chicago, IL
"My thoughts and prayers to the family of John. He was a true educational leader who ALWAYS put students first in any education decision he made. I am proud to call him a friend and professional colleague!"
Clem Mejia from Elburn, IL
"I have many fond memories of working with John both at St.Charles District 303 and Aurora University. He will be missed as a friend and colleague. He was "one of the good guys." My thoughts and prayers to the Vanko family."
Jennifer Olsen from St. Charles , IL
"Dr. Vanko hired Bill and I both. He was also receiving treatment in the same building as Bill. When Bill first got sick he was one of the first people to call him. They had planned to ride the train into the city together for treatments if there was ever an opportunity.One afternoon about 6 weeks ago, Dr. Vanko and his wife Marty, and Bill and I, talked on ‘speaker’ for almost an hour. We shared so many common thoughts, feelings, and experiences regarding this awful disease. Since then, Marty and I have grown to know each other but still have never met. We agreed to get together soon. Marty let me know yesterday that “Even toward the end, John was concerned about you.” Today when she learned that Bills test results are looking ‘favorable’ she said “That is such wonderful news. I am so happy to hear it and I know that John is smiling down on both of you. I will continue to keep both of you close in my prayers”.Through this difficult journey we were able to reconnect with Dr. Vanko and find some comfort together fighting this nasty disease. We will miss him but have gained remarkable love and support with and for Marty."
Gary Jewel from Bradenton, FL
"A great friend and colleague. I worked with John for many years. Such a loss this is."
Bob Brigham Jr. from Geneva, IL
"I was so sorry to hear of John's passing. I am currently visiting my mother Gertrude Brigham at Kiswaukee Hospital (she broke her hip yesterday) and was reading The DeKalb Chronicle and saw the article about John. Our family lived on Dorken Lane with the Vanko's. They were wondeful neighbors and were missed when they moved. I had the good fortune to play quite a few rounds of golf with John. I will say it didn't take Kenny too long to beat him! Once again, i am so sorry to hear this. Warm regards, Bob Brigham, Jr."
William Malinowski from Joliet, IL
"John hired me at Joliet West High School in 1969. He was a great Principal and a great person. He was always good to talk with , and a good listener. I enjoyed working for him. My thoughts and prayers to the Vanko family"