John Hodak, Jr.

John Hodak -- KankakeeJohn L. Hodak, 75, of Kankakee, died unexpectedly Sunday (Feb. 3, 2008) while vacationing in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. John Hodak was born Sept. 28, 1932, in Stambaugh, Mich. and moved to Kankakee in 1934 with his parents, John and Marie Colberg Otto Hodak.Surviving are his wife of 58 years, Marilyn (Yonke) Hodak; five sons and four daughters-in-law, Larry and Chris Hodak of Chicago, Mark and Paula Hodak of Kankakee, Bruce and Paula Hodak of Lexington, N.C., Phil and Sue Hodak of Kankakee, and Doug Hodak of Darien; eight grandchildren, Jason and Amy Hodak of Snowcamp, N.C., Jill Hodak of Island Lake, Jeremy and Katie Hodak of Kankakee, Jared Hodak of Asheville, N.C., Katie Hodak of Kankakee, Eleanor Hodak and Hannah Hodak, both of Chicago, John Hodak of Darien and his fiancee, Sara Hamilton; three stepgrandchildren, Rachel Williamson of Chicago, Ross Williamson of Watseka, and Carrie Williamson of Carbondale; and three great-grandchildren, Peyton and Carson Hodak of Snowcamp, N.C., and Josephine Hodak of Kankakee. John is also survived by one brother and sister-in-law, George and Gladys Otto of Newton, Iowa; one sister and brother-in-law, Kay and Jim Vider of Panama City Beach, Fla.; and in-laws, Martha DeFily of Downers Grove and Art and Steph Yonke of Rock Island.Deceased are his parents and one son, Daniel.Upon his father's death in 1990, John assumed management of Hodak Motor Sales until the business was closed in 1997. An avid collector of vintage Studebakers, John enjoyed restoring and showing classic cars. He was a faithful usher at St. Patrick's Catholic Church for many years. Upon his retirement, he and Marilyn enjoyed traveling in their motor home and cruising in their pontoon on the Kankakee River. John was a stalwart member of the Cardiac Rehab group of Provena St. Mary's Hospital, and the Kankakee Boat Club. He and Marilyn delivered meals to the homebound with the Meals on Wheels program.Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, with a 3 p.m. wake service, at the Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral Home, west Kankakee. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Bishop McNamara High School, or to Provena St. Mary's Hospital Cardiac Rehab.

John Hodak, Jr.

September 28, 1932 - February 3, 2008