John Francis Wepprecht

May 5, 1935 - May 16, 2015

Age 80, of Essex, IL passed away Saturday, May 16, 2015 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL. Born May 5, 1935 in Union Hill, IL to the late Omar Paul and Marian Frances (nee Boyer) Wepprecht. John attended Union Hill Grade School and graduated from Reddick High School in 1953. He was a standout athlete, participating in basketball, football, and baseball. He excelled in basketball, receiving a scholarship to the Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL. He soon married his high school sweetheart, the love of his life, Delores “Dee” (nee Persak), on September 13, 1954. He then went to work for Herscher Natural Gas and Storage Company for thirteen years. In 1966, he worked for Peabody Coal Company, until it closed in 1975. He continued to work there for one more year to help in the reclamation of the company. He also worked from 1976-1984 as a supervisor at A.O. Smith. Lastly, in 1984, he worked for Commonwealth Edison in the mechanical maintenance department, and retired from Exelon in 2002. In his youth, he was an avid baseball player, playing for the Essex VFW and Acre Inn fast pitch softball as a catcher and “clean-up hitter”. He shared his knowledge of baseball by coaching Little League and Senior League for sixteen years. He attended the St. Lawrence O’Toole Catholic Church in Essex and the St. Lawrence Catholic Church in South Wilmington, IL. He was vice president of the Essex Historical Society. He served on the Essex town board, was a charter member of the Essex Lions Club, and President on the Reddick High School Board of Education. He also was a charter member of the Ponderosa Sportsmen Club and head of the waterfowl hunting program. His greatest joy in life was spending time with his children and grandchildren, teaching them everything about anything he knew! He took great pride in gardening and working in his yard and had a love for all Chicago sports teams. Surviving are his wife of sixty years, Delores “Dee” Wepprecht, of Essex; three children, John Bradford (Daphne) Wepprecht of Reddick, IL, Jeff (Katy) Wepprecht of South Wilmington, IL, and Michelle (Larry) Dumke of Grand Ridge, IL; seven grandchildren, Braden (Colleen) Wepprecht, Jared (Elizabeth) Wepprecht, Caleb Wepprecht, Shane Wepprecht, Matthew Wepprecht, Kyle Dumke, and Blair Dumke; five great-grandchildren, Claire Wepprecht, Amelia Wepprecht, Courtney Wosik, Katie Wosik, and Connor Wosik; three siblings, Ronald (Elaine) Wepprecht of Mackinaw, IL, Joyce Raab of Bradley, IL, and Sandra (Dan) Ryan of Union Hill, IL; numerous nieces and nephews; and his favorite physician, Dr. Jayesh Mehta, M.D., Professor of Medicine Director at Northwestern University. Preceding him in death were one son, John Gregory Wepprecht; three grandchildren, Hillary Wepprecht, Amber Wepprecht, and Kerri Dumke; one infant brother, James Wepprecht; father and mother-in-law, George and Hazel Persak; and brother-in-law, Paul Raab. Funeral services will be at the R.W. Patterson Funeral Homes, Ltd. & Crematory, Braidwood Chapel, Thursday, May 21, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. Interment Braceville-Gardner Cemetery, Braceville, IL. Visitation Wednesday, May 20, 2015 from 4-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in his name to the Essex Historical Society, Essex Lions Club, or the Essex Volunteer Fire Department would be appreciated.