John Code Obituary

Code, John M. 6oc10040 age 69, from cancer, 13 year resident of Indian Head Park, formerly of Riverside, John was the loving husband of Ardis Ann (nee Veltmann) for 38 years and the devoted father of two daughters, Kelly (Scott) Kinsey and Traci Ann (Jonathan) Paetsch, fond grandfather of Jax Owen Kinsey. After serving four years in the U.S Air Force (1952-56), John joined the Firemen & Oilers Union-Chicago Local #7. He became Business Representative of Local #7 in 1959 and President in 1975. John retired as President of the Local #7 after 38 years of elective service in 1996. John was elected Vice President of the International Union and served in that elected position for 22 years until his retirement in 1996. During his term as Vice President, John served as 1st Vice President of the International and as Chairman of the International Welfare Fund. During his term, John was responsible for affiliating the Firemen & Oilers Union with the Service Employees International Union with over one and a half million members. Over his 38 years of leadership with Local #7, John served on many political assignments including the City of Chicago Air Pollution Board of Mayor Richard J. Daley and the Cook County Transition Team of County Board Presidents John Phelan and John Stroger. During his 38 years, John also served as a spokesman and member of the City of Chicago Coalition of Unions, representing some 43 unions in contract negotiations with the City of Chicago. John also served as chairman of the State Coalition of Unions representing the State of Illinois Unions and served as Chairman of the Chicago Board of Education Unions negotiating the Chicago Board of Education Labor Agreements. John was a former board member of the Chicago S.E.I.U. Executive Board and served as a member of the Chicago Federation of Labor Finance Committee for 30 years. Visitation was held Monday from 3 to 9 p.m. at Hallowell & James Funeral Home, 1025 W. 55th St., Countryside. Funeral Mass Tuesday, 9:45 a.m. at St. John of the Cross Church (51st & Wolf Rd.), Western Springs. Interment Queen of Heaven Cemetery. Donations to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, 500 N. Dearborn, Suite 305, Chicago, 60610 or the American Cancer Society, Suite 3 South, 7234 W. Ogden Ave., Riverside, Ill., 60546. 708- 352-6500 Visit Guest Book at www.suntimes.com