John Henry Eckenroad, III, 78, of Boca Grande, Florida passed away surrounded by his family on July 24, 2022. Born on Aug. 14, 1943, he spent the first years of his life in Clarendon Hills with his parents Mary and John Jr. and his younger sister, Ann. John attended St. Procopius High School before the family relocated to Dubuque, Iowa and graduated from Wahlert Catholic High School in 1961.
He attended Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, where he met his future wife, Margaret (Marge) Mary Friedrich, and graduated with a B.S. in political science in 1965. He went on to earn a master’s degree in political science in 1967 from Northern Illinois University. John and Marge were married in Naperville in 1967.
He embarked on a career in city management and development that spanned over 40 years, beginning as an assistant manager in LaGrange Park, where they started their family. He became city manager of Northfield in 1970 where he and Marge raised their two daughters, Meg and Kathleen. As city manager, he oversaw the development, modernization and also preservation of the village he loved and called home most of his life. In 1995, he accepted a position to lead the Oak Park Development Corporation as executive director, for 10 years fostering economic development, job creation and assisted countless small businesses in the village of Oak Park.
His life was dedicated to making a difference and leaning into the community in which he lived to make it a better place for everyone. He served on the boards of St. Philip the Apostle Catholic School, Regina Dominican High School, and Catholic Charities of Chicago.
He will be greatly missed by Marge, his wife of 55 years; his children, Meg and Kathleen (Brian) Noonan; his son-in-law, Brian; his three grandsons, Colin, Casey and Patrick; his sister, Ann (William) Hittman; and many close friends in Northfield, Oak Park and Boca Grande.
Visitation was held on Aug. 13 at St. Philip the Apostle Church (Devine Mercy Parish) in Northfield, followed by a funeral Mass. A memorial Mass will be held at a future date at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Boca Grande, Florida.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in John’s honor to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at www.michaeljfox.org/donate.
