John Stanley Skarbek Jr.

Our father John Stanley Skarbek, Jr., 77, of Frankfort, Illinois, passed away December 3, 2025 at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

 Born on April 25, 1948, in Chicago, Illinois, to the late John S. Skarbek, Sr. and Anne M. (Przybylski) Skarbek, he was a loving, dedicated and amazing Dad to us, Jeannine (Skarbek-Kubas), and Valerie and David (Skarbek). He was a very special Grandpa (“Poppy”) to Alexia, Antonia and Anasofia Kubas. He was preceded in death by his Godmother, Aunt Clara (Kai) Przybylski and nephew Scott Skarbek. He is survived by brothers Joseph Skarbek, Thomas (Susan) Skarbek, Robert (Laura) Skarbek and many beloved nephews, nieces, family and friends.

John was raised in Little Village, Chicago, just south of Douglas Park. He and his parents lived on the top floor of a three-flat, which his maternal grandparents bought. John’s Grandpa Stanley and Godmother Aunt Kai lived on the other floor, thus centering his childhood around family. John began grade school and his altar boy service at St. Roman’s Church in Chicago. He transferred to St. George School in 4th Grade when he, his parents and younger brothers, Joe and Tom moved to Tinley Park. A fourth baby brother was added to the family when his youngest brother Bob was born 13 years after our Dad. John studied at St. Procopius and graduated from St. Rita High School.

Our Dad’s main focus in life was his family, especially us, his children. We enjoyed bowling games, miniature golf, and hiking at Starved Rock. Annual vacations are some of our best childhood memories. He took us, sometimes one-on-one, to numerous Chicago Bears, White Sox and Bulls games. Because of Dad, we had once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to watch Michael Jordan and the championship Bulls in action.

After retirement he was a constant companion, chauffeur, and super fan to his and his A-Team, granddaughters (Jeannine’s daughters) Alexia, Antonia and Anasofia. As their ever-doting Poppy, he picked them up from school and many activities daily, cheered them on at softball and volleyball games, and attended plays they starred in as well as countless dance recitals. Their wide range of personal interests became his, including Weird Al Yankovic, Hamilton, lunch with a NASA astronaut, and vinyl record and reptile shows. He especially enjoyed underwriting yearly back-to-school shopping trips to Oak Brook Mall complete with lunch, and he made sure their Christmas wish lists were always fulfilled. They in turn shared in his fave activities of Corvette car shows and James Bond movies.

His love of dogs and animals began early when he came home with a puppy in his arms and convinced his Mom to adopt “Corkey.” He expertly trained and showered love upon his best four-legged friends, our noble Collies Dino, Rocky and Prince, a mischievous Cocker Spaniel Rusty, and his current baby, the very handsome English Cream Golden Retriever Duke.

He bought and maintained treasured cars including his maroon 1964 Ford Galaxie XL, red 1968 Torino and award-winning white 1979 L82 Corvette while grooving to the Beach Boys, Elvis, and the Beatles. A disciplined exerciser, he enjoyed biking on Frankfort’s Old Plank Trail and sweating to “Wipe Out” Ventures classics in the basement. He collected model railroad trains and bubble lights, and set up intricate villages under our Christmas trees with multiple train tracks, trolley cards, and an airborne Santa flying a sleigh. Our Dad’s inner Clark Griswold came out every Christmas, even garnering 1st place recognition in holiday lighting competitions.

Another main constant in his life, was his dedication to any work at hand. He delivered newspapers in grade school and Ed & Joe’s pizza in high school. As a young husband, he provided for his family by working multiple jobs simultaneously including in the parts department at Cooper Show Ford in Frankfort, fueling cars, checking oil, washing windshields and doing night inventory at Clark gas station on Oak Park Ave.

At age 16, John started his Jewel Tea career as a service clerk/bagger in Tinley Park. He was promoted many times, including to Produce Manager and later Store Director, managing Jewel-Osco stores on the south side of Chicago, Blue Island, Oak Forest, Palos, Hickory Hills, Frankfort, and Romeoville in Illinois, and Munster and Chesterton in Indiana. Younger store managers described our Dad as one of the “OG” Jewel Managers, the top leaders whom everyone admired and looked up to for their success and accomplishments. Our Dad was especially known for his squeaky clean, well-organized stores. Store employees described him as “very tough, but also fair.” Some said as a boss he made them laugh daily. Always on his toes, he was known as the “Ninja,” stealthily popping up behind employees checking up on their work. After 46 years at Jewel, Dad/Poppy retired and celebrated by treating his whole family (adult kids and grandchildren) to a Disney vacation.

He was committed to his Catholic faith and volunteered extensively after retirement with the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart. He headed up food collections, managed garage sales, and relived his altar boy days, participating in mass rituals from carrying up the cross to washing feet on Holy Thursday! He served on the Board of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart's Franciscan Foundation.

At his passing, he gave us the the honor of surrounding him at his bedside, holding his hands and reliving favorite memories as we listened to “Poppy’s Playlist,” his life’s soundtrack curated by granddaughter Antonia. When John Mellencamp’s little ditty 'bout Jack and Diane came up, we chanted his favorite verse, “Oh yeah, life goes on, long after the thrill of livin’ is gone. They walk on.” And walk on he did, after living an unforgettable life, dedicated to us and our family through to his final days.

Our family will receive friends at Kurtz Memorial Chapel, 65 Old Frankfort Way, Frankfort IL 60423 on Monday, December 8, 2025 from 3:00 PM until 8:00 PM. Funeral service, Tuesday December 9, 2025 with prayers at funeral home at 9:00 AM and then to St. Mary's Catholic Church, 19515 115th Avenue, Mokena, IL 60448 for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM. Private Interment will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Frankfort, Illinois (Row L Grave 35)

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Franciscan Sisters in Frankfort https://fssh.net/give/