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John F. "Jack" Smith III

FUNERAL HOME

Haben Funeral Home & Crematory

8057 Niles Center Road

Skokie, Illinois

UPCOMING SERVICE

Visitation

Sep. 25, 2025

4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Haben Funeral Home & Crematory

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John Smith Obituary

Smith, III, John F. "Jack"

John F. "Jack" Smith, III, age 89, of Chicago, died Friday, September 19, 2025, at his residence. Devoted son of the late John F. Smith Jr. and Mary V. Cradick, he was born August 9, 1936, in Chicago. Retired Journalist with City News Bureau of Chicago, Chicago Daily News, WBBM, CBS, and CNN and Professor at Loyola University and DePaul University. Veteran, U.S. Army. Beloved husband of Mary Eleanor "Marilyn," née Carey; dear father of Mary Jo Msall, Maureen (Ivan Gazidis), Jack, Maggie, and the late Tom Smith; loving grandfather of Lucy (Simcha Barkai), Camille and Matilda (Nico Banks) Msall, Costa and Aidan Gazidis, and Conor Smith; fond brother of Bill Smith and the late George Burke (Deborah Corey) Smith and Patricia Anne (the late Jim) Lehr; dearest brother-in-law of Marilyn Shiel Smith and Jim Carey. Visitation, Thursday, September 25, 2025, from 4 to 8 p.m., at HABEN Funeral Home & Crematory, 8057 Niles Center Rd., Skokie. Mass of Christian Burial, Friday, September 26, at 10 a.m., at Holy Child Jesus Catholic Parish (St. Margaret Mary Church), 2324 W. Chase Ave., Chicago. Interment, Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Evanston. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Misericordia, Heart of Mercy, 6300 N. Ridge Ave., Chicago, IL 60660 (misericordia.com) or The Danny Did Foundation, 3008 Central St., Suite 203, Evanston, IL 60201 (dannydid.org). Funeral info: 847.673.6111 or habenfuneral.com to leave a condolence message.

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Published by Chicago Sun-Times on Sep. 23, 2025.

Memorial Events
for John Smith

Sep

25

Visitation

4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Haben Funeral Home & Crematory

8057 Niles Center Rd, Skokie, IL

Sep

26

Mass of Christian Burial

10:00 a.m.

Holy Child Jesus Catholic Parish

2324 W. Chase Ave, Chicago, IL

Funeral services provided by:

Haben Funeral Home & Crematory

8057 Niles Center Road, Skokie, IL 60077-2599

Memories and Condolences
for John Smith

Sponsored by Chicago Sun-Times.

Not sure what to say?





5 Entries

Nigel Harris

Yesterday

We feel blessed to have known you. Thea and Nigel

Group of 10 Memorial Trees

Jim Carey and Elisabeth Carey Elvanian

Planted Trees

Marilyn Woidat

September 20, 2025

Frank and I treasured each and every conversation we had with Jack at the SFH annual reunions . Indeed a Renaissance Man, his humor , knowledge ,
and ethics were part of his warmth and charm.
RIP Jack and sympathy to all his love ones.
Marilyn Woidat

Group of 10 Memorial Trees

Anne and David Fass

Planted Trees

Andrea Calhoun

September 20, 2025

A great being with honor and respect. Sending love to you all Smith Family.

Showing 1 - 5 of 5 results

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