John Orlock Obituary

John A. Orlock, 86, of Sturgeon Bay, formerly of Downers Grove, Illinois, passed in his sleep in the early morning hours on Wednesday, October 13, 2010, surrounded by members of his family. Mr. Orlock had been battling various physical ailments, including heart disease, in the last years of his life, but his zest for living remained unchanged. The oldest son of Arthur "Jack" Orlock and Verona (Murphy), Mr. Orlock was born April 6, 1924, and raised in Chicago, where he attended Lane Tech High School and began a career in insurance at the Homer Gwinn Company. He met his wife of 60-plus years, Marion (Tracy), while working at the firm. The two were married on January 27, 1950, in Chicago, and eventually settled in Downers Grove, in the western suburbs of Chicago, to raise a family of seven children. Mr. Orlock earned certification as a CPCU in insurance underwriting and rose to vice president of Security Mutual Casualty Company in Chicago before finishing his career as an insurance regulator for the state of Illinois. He retired in 1990 to Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, where he pursued interests in recreational bicycling, music appreciation, reading, and writing poetry. His work recently appeared in the pages of the Peninsula Pulse, and he continued composing new verse up to the last days of his life. Mr. Orlock was preceded in death by his parents and three siblings: Robert, Marjean (Holub), and Gloria (Darmody). He is survived by his loving wife and seven children: Pamela Louise (Foulk) of Downers Grove; Michael John (Elizabeth Foley) of Sturgeon Bay; John Tracy of Downers Grove; Robert John (Trish Karris) of Madison, Alabama; Jane Louise (Brandon Bawel) of Downers Grove; Patricia Louise (Graf) of Evanston, Illinois; and Amy Louise (Joe Wagner) of Downers Grove. In addition, Mr. Orlock was a proud grandfather of 18 and great-grandfather of four. Memorial services celebrating Mr. Orlock's life will be held for friends and family in Sturgeon Bay Thursday, October 21, at 1:30 PM at St. Joseph's Catholic Church; and in Downers Grove, Illinois, Thursday, October 28, at 10:00 AM at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Friends may call in Sturgeon Bay at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Sturgeon Bay on Thursday from 12:30 p.m. until the time of services at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be sent to Unity Hospice for the wonderful care and consideration offered by the staff in the last weeks of Mr. Orlock's life. Huehns Funeral Home of Sturgeon Bay is assisting the family with arrangements. Sign guest book and offer condolences at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com .