On Oct. 9, 2020, John Leroy Jurgens of Elkhorn, went to be with the Lord at the age of 65. He was a loving husband and father of seven daughters.
John was born on Jan. 14, 1955. He was second in line of four sons. His mother, Kallie Jurgens, fell in love with and married her second husband, Albert Jurgens, and they moved from El Paso, Texas to Chicago, Ill. There their stepfather, Albert, adopted the three boys, Richard, John and Micheal. Soon they added another son to the bunch, Charles.
As John became a young man he joined the United States Army and became a paratrooper stationed in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He attended a Baptist Church, became saved and was baptized. After the army he found a job at Nicor Gas and started attending Rolling Meadows Baptist Church where he met his future wife.
They were married six months later and recently celebrated their 41st anniversary. His wife, Suzanne Carole Stitt Jurgens, gave him seven beautiful daughters. John worked hard to provide for his daughters while his wife was a stay-at-home mom until all of their children were in school. At the time of his death John was semi-retired and worked for UBER part-time.
John loved fishing but his passion was his gardens. He had a love for gardening that exceeded everyone’s expectations. Every winter John would plot out the following spring’s plans and always upped his game. The whole town noticed and adored his gardens. People in cars, pedestrians and bikers would stop to admire and converse with John about his gardens.
John was preceded in death by his father, Albert Jurgens; his brothers, Richard, Micheal and Charles; and his daughters, Sarah Jean and Nicole Lee.
He is survived by his wife Suzanne; his mother, Kallie Jurgens; five daughters, Leah (Thomas) Jurgens, Lauren (Bryant) Goebel, Rachel Jurgens, Cassandra (Adam) Wesner and Carolyn Jurgens; four grandchildren, Jonathan Jurgens, Sophia Hassler, Harper Kerr and Margaret Wesner; beloved Dutch Shepherd, Ben; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.
John’s wishes are to hold a celebration of life on his birthday Jan. 14, 2021 with immediate family, and a larger gathering for friends and family on Father’s Day 2021.
