John Lewis Obituary

Dear Lewis Family:

I only recently heard of John's passing. I am sorry for your loss. I knew John as a codefendant's attorney on several cases over the years. He was civil, professional, and a credit to our profession. I saw him over the past few years more often in Joliet for the Will County court call. I will miss seeing and chatting with John. I join with the many people who made entries in this guest book to give you some comfort in this difficult time.

Ode to a man who could make you smile,
While he puffed a cigar and drank Old Style.

Heres to the man, a karaoke king,
"Oh Danny Boy" was his favorite to sing.

An Irishman from head to toe,
He was someone you just had to know.

When John was around no one was a stranger,
and unless you were a Cardinal fan you were not in any danger.

We will miss his smile, his warmth and his love,
And find peace in knowing he's watching from above.

Our prayers are with you during this time.

I really enjoyed John's spirit and friendship. I will miss his laughter and the fun times fishing with him. Sometimes God takes the good one's early in life. My heart goes out to Dom, Cathy, and Marie.

I was saddened to hear of John's passing. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Lewis family. I had the pleasure to work with John a few years back at LMI and have many fond memories. John would keep us entertained with his many stories and jokes. His smile always lit up a room and it was also very contagious. That is how I will remember John.

My deepest sympathies to the Lewis family. John was a great guy, loving husband and good father. I worked with John for a while and I recall how proud he was when talking about his kids or how beautifully his wife sang. He will truly be missed.

Dear Marie, Dom, & Cathy, My brother, Bob, just let me know about John's passing. Harry and I were both shocked and saddened by the news. I have to say I was smiling as I read the many guest book enteries, because so many of the stories and thoughts brought to mind my own memories of John. He was so much fun to work with, but he was even more fun to sit and talk to. He was a wonderful man who cared so much for his family and always tried to put a smile on your face when you saw him. I hope he will always know how many smiles he put on my face and how I will always smile when I think of him. Much love to the Lewis family. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

My condolences to Marie, Dom, and the entire Lewis family for their sudden loss. As one of John's former colleagues, I remember him for the cheerful spirit and levity he brought to everyone around him. John, you will be greatly missed.

I send my deepest condolences to Marie, Dominick, and Cathy. John was a great man. May God's peace and grace remain with you and your family. I know that John is in a really good place.

My deepest sympathies Cathy, Marie, Dom and all who were touched by having John in their life. I recall meeting John shortly before Cathy and Nick were married and marveling at how he was able to make everyone feel as if they were part of the family and always had been. He had a presence and genuineness that is unique. May your positive memories of John provide you some solice in the days ahead. My thoughts will be with you.

Dear Marie, Dom & Family,
Your husband/father was one of the nicest people I have ever met in my life. His presence and sense of life warmed all those around him. We are truly saddened to learn of his passing and will always feel blessed having had the chance to know him. From day one, he treated us like family. That's pure gold. We are here for you. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

John was a wonderful law school classmate who added a great deal to our class. My thoughts and prayers are with his family as I think of Psalm 23 "Surely goodness and love shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

I was shocked and saddened to hear of John's untimely death. I only knew him the past few years when he was the lawyer on the other side of a lawsuit that I was an attorney on. He was a guy who had class, character, and humanity - part of the "Old Breed" where a lawyer was measured by his character and not his cleverness. If all lawyers were like John, the profession would once again be held in high esteem. I'm sure he was as great a cop, also. I'm honored to have known you, John.

John was a beloved co-worker. He was a charming man with a keen wit. I extend my sincerest condolences to his family. Our office will not be the same without him.

Dear Marie, Dom, and Cathy:

Please accept our deepest condolences and know that our prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time. It was an honor to have known John and I can safely say that every memory of him was a great one. He was one of the nicest and most down to earth people I have ever met and he will be truly missed!

Dear Marie, Dominick and Cathy,

Sara and I offer all of you and your family our deepest condolences and prayers during this very difficult time. We loved John so much. He was a kind, fun and caring man. We will miss our friend immensely. Thinking of John, Shakespeare's beautiful words from "Romeo and Juliet" come to mind.

"...and, when he shall die,
Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make make the face of heaven so fine
That all the world will be in love with night,
And pay no worship to the garish sun."

We love you John.

Dear Aunt Marie, Dominick & Cathy,
We are so proud to have been a part of so many family celebrations with Uncle John. He was a loving family man who epitomized the word family in every way possible. Although this sudden loss is so unbelievable, we pray God gives us all the strength to live life the way he did, with so much passion and joy. We will embrace all the cherished and funny memories we have of him, and we will continue to share them with you, love you and stay close with him in this way.
Love you all - Don & Ann

John was a member of my extended family and he always made me feel welcome to be part of his family. I will always remember Cathy and Nick's first Thanksgiving dinner with all of us around the table with good food and good conversation, and most of all laughs and songs! Thank you for the memory.

I am deeply saddened to hear about John's untimely passing. He was a person who always had a smile on his face and made you smile. I am sure glad that I had the chance to work with him. I will keep Marie and his children and grandchildren in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time of their lives.
Julianne Selk Berwyn, Illinois

Dear Marie, Dom and Cathy,

John used to tell me about the letters he was in the process of writing to his grandchildren…letters about life lessons and the Johnnie take on things. It struck me as such an amazing idea and so terribly John. What a loving guy who took such immense pride in his wife, family, kids, grandkids, etc.

One time we were driving down to a golf trip. A couple hours into the drive the Old Style had worked it’s way through both Bob and John (I was driving) so we stopped. John had made sandwiches for the road and he handed me one in particular. I was shocked to realize it was a Braunschweiger (liver sausage) sandwich, on white toast with butter? It was a sandwich my Italian grandfather used to make for me when I was a little kid. I asked where he got the idea and John said he remembered my talking about how much I used to love those sandwiches. I gave it some thought and ultimately recalled the conversation: the thing was it had taken place over 5 years before that, late one night after a golf outing at Shady. So it was true, John “never forgets,” of course sometimes he didn’t remember things too well but those are a different set of stories. He wrote letters to his newborn grandchildren and made me a liver sausage sandwich…I can’t think of two better ways to tell someone you love them. One last story:

On the way down to Keith’s 50th b-day party the weekend before John passed away we got on the topic of family. As always, John gushed about his family and emphasized how “blessed” he was. What made this time different from the other 1000 times John gushed about his family was that it was even more heartfelt than usual. John was a man of passions: passion for life, passion for golf, passion for the Cubs, Oldstyle and cigars… but his greatest passion far above all others was his family. On our way to Champaign he said he felt honored and proud to be a part of the Lewis/Saviano klan because he was part of something bigger than himself and that one of the joys of family was the link it provided to the past and future even when you weren’t around anymore. This was more insight than John usually provided and I deliberately made a mental note of the conversation. Perhaps now I know why.

Words aren’t adequate or powerful or big enough to truly describe John but my feelings for him are. He was one of my very best friends, there was nothing I wouldn't do for him and I always knew that John had my back. The acute void John leaves is devastating but my memories of him fill my heart with true warmth and happiness and sheer gratitude for knowing how lucky I was to have had him in my life. It saddens me that my children won’t get the opportunity to know John personally and I wish words were more powerful so I could easily confirm that I had done an adequate job of describing him and all that he meant to me. However I take great solace knowing that one day Izzy and Payton will fully comprehend all that John was because I will pass my love for him on to them and knowing that love, understanding will follow.

Please accept Debbie and my deepest and most heartfelt condolences on your loss and know that our prayers are with you always.

I want to express my sadness I feel for your loss, I will keep your family in my prayers. I has been probably over 20 years since I had contact with the family. I remember "hanging" out with Cathy in her room playing U2 albums and playing with Princess. My heart goes out to the entire family and may God be with you.

Aunt Marie, Dominick & Cathy- I am deeply saddened by the news I received today. I can not imagine what you must be going through. It is hard to know the right thing to say or do at times like this. I hope if any thing this message relays how much I love you and will miss Uncle John. He was so much fun and such a caring person. He always made me laugh - so full of life. He really lived in the moment, which I truly admirer. Danny was just saying yesterday how much he enjoyed hanging out with him. He thought a lot of Uncle John as we all do. I cherish the times I had with him and will miss him with all my heart. I am so honored that he was a part of my life. At times like this I like to think that family gets you through. I love you guys! -Carolyn

Dearest Marie,
As you know, I am very fussy about who I call "friend". John made this short list. His good humor, intelligence, and love of family and friends made him a very special person. Memories of putting your office furniture together and playing golf with John in the Men's Club and in Florida will be with me until I rejoin John in our foursome in heaven. I miss him already. Love to you in this difficult time.

David & I will so miss your zest for life, great love of family, and living for the moment. We are both so greatful for having you in our lives.

My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.

Our hearts and prayers go out to all Marie, Dom, Cathy and all of the Lewis family. May John rest in peace.

To the Lewis family, we are truly sorry for your loss. Pete and Danielle Demartini

Marie, Dominick, Cathy and the whole Lewis and related clans: While I was deeply saddened to hear of John's untimely passing, I still can't think of John without smiling a little bit. He brought joy into every room he entered. I will always fondly remember our happy hour excursions to "Jimmy's," our many golf outings, and John's stories, jokes and sayings. I don't think I ever met a man who was prouder of his kids, or loved his wife, "the lovely and talented" (as he always called Marie) more than John. God Bless all of you, and John. He has a better vantage point to watch over you now.

My thoughts are with the Lewis family--I honestly don't know if I can express how much John ment to me in words. I only knew him a few years, but his love of life and family was obvious to everyone that met him and was truly inspiring.

Thanks John for the stories, laughs, songs, that bocce win against your son-in-law, letting us win at poker (you know you could have taken our $), and your genuine friendship.

Gerald and family, Sending your family my condolences on this unexpected and sad time.

Peggy and I both give thanks for all of the thoughts, prayers and condolences of so many friends. "We see from where we stand, " the old saying goes, and from where I stand, I see a man with a series of absolutely amazing accomplishments in the face of adversity. We love you, buddy...

The first things that come to mind when I think of John are his sense of humor and wit. He always seemed to bring out the best in all of those around him, and had a way with turning a serious room into one filed with laughter. My deepest sympathies to your family and all of those whose lives he touched.

I remember playing pool with Dom and his dad in their home. Mr. Lewis made me laugh on more than one occasion. My heart goes out to the whole family.

We were just thinking about John and Marie last month as we were in New Orleans and thinking of Mosca's.
John was a good colleague and a better man.
His passing truly leaves a void. Our condolences to both family and friends. We miss him already.

When I first heard the news, I was crushed. Then I opened an Old Style, lit a cigar, put on my Cubs hat, and hit pretend golf balls in the back yard. Just my little tribute to a great friend, husband, father and grandfather. We will miss him dearly.

My heart goes out to the Lewis family at the loss of their husband, brother and father. And to John's grandsons, who will grow up without their grandfather, but whose lives will surely be shaped by him.

Condolences to your family in this difficult time.

John was one jovial man on the golf course. He always went out of his to be friendly. Please accept my deepest sympathies.

I am deeply saddened by John's passing. His zest for life and love of his family was truly an inspiration to me.

I am very sorry for the loss of your loved one.
Love Diane Lattuca

I am deeply saddened to hear about John's passing. His family is in my thoughts and prayers. I enjoyed working, golfing, talking and laughing with him. I will miss him.

John was simply amazing. He loved his family, his friends, his golf clubs (sometimes) and his life. He lived and loved well, and long enough to hold his grandchildren in his arms. We offer our prayers and sympathy to Marie and his family, and we are grateful for having known him !
Marc and Deb Forkins

Guy and I both offer our love and support to the Lewis family. We are so very grateful we got to spend time in Chicago with John not long ago. He could tell a story like no other and listening to him was an enjoyment. He will truly be missed but never forgotten.

I am saddened to hear about John. He was a great co-worker and attorney. He will be greatly missed.

Cassie and I give our best wishes to the Lewis family as we have seen first hand how great of a man John Lewis was. The family is in our hearts and prayers.

I am deeply saddened by John's passing. I had just spoken to him on Friday and he was his jovial self. I enjoyed working with him as he always looked on the bright side and would interject humor. I will miss him.