John G. Ulreich Jr.

John G. Ulreich, Jr., age 84, formerly of Frankfort IL, died peacefully in his residence at the Carrington of Lincolnwood on March 20th, 2026 from complications of Parkinson’s disease. 

John was born to John George Sr. and Edith Lanham Ulreich on December 30th, 1941 in Chicago Heights, IL. He graduated from Crete Monee High School in 1959 with athletic letter pins from both baseball and basketball. John graduated from Knox College in 1963 where he majored in math and played on the college basketball team.

 After college, John worked at Wisconsin Steel as an industrial engineer for three years. It was there he met his future wife, Marilyn (Lynn) Shaw. During this time, he was drafted by the army to serve the United States in the Vietnam war and completed his basic military training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He returned briefly to Chicago to marry Lynne on January 13th,1968, before leaving for Vietnam the next day. In Vietnam, John served in a howitzer unit for 365 days, with only a four-day break in the middle, spent with his new wife in Hawaii. 

After serving in the war, John worked in management at Sears, Roebuck and Company on many profitable projects. During this time, John also went to night school at the University of Chicago where he earned his MBA, thanks to the G.I. Bill.

 In 1986, John got a job at New York Life as an insurance agent and worked his way up to become a Development Manager. He was always the first one in the office and loved getting up at 4:30 AM to go to work each day. John was a dedicated and celebrated employee for over 30 years before his retirement in December 2021. He was deeply committed to helping others succeed and made a lasting impact on those he mentored and worked alongside.

John was a true sports fan! He spent many hours on the golf course. While they were members, he and Lynn won more husband/wife golf tournaments than any pair at Prestwick Country Club. Besides golf, he enjoyed bowling and playing bridge. Always a competitor, he and Lynn played in regional and national bridge tournaments and earned many gold points awarded for high level performance.

 John’s quiet demeanor and big heart were loved by all who knew him. He will be missed.

 John was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Marilynn Ulreich; his parents, John George Sr. and Edith Landam Ulreich; his twin brother, Joseph William Ulreich, and younger brother Douglas C. Ulreich. He is survived by step children, Frank Shaw (Meg), and Debra Shaw; grandchildren Stephanie (Kevin Smith) Shaw, Sarah (Zachary) Shaftal, Daniel (Becca) Shaw, and Quinn Shaw (Sarah Abrahamson, fiancée) ; great grandchildren Ruby Smith, Charlie Smith, Kieran Smith, Louis Smith, Jude Shaftal, Samuel Shaftal, Gabriel Shaftal, and Scout Shaw; sister in laws, Lynne Ulreich and Jan Ulreich, a nephew and niece, plus many friends.

 A celebration of John’s life will take place at Kurtz Memorial Chapel,65 Old Frankfort Way, Frankfort, IL on Saturday May 2nd. Visitation is at 11 A.M. followed by service at noon. Reception immediately following for all at Prestwick Country Club, 601 Prestwick Dr, Frankfort, IL. 

In lieu of flowers the family requests you consider a donation to: 

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

 P.O. Box 5041 Hagerstown, MD 21741

or michaeljfox.org/donate