John Guokas

John E. Guokas, 82,of Winthrop Harbor, IL, died on Friday, July 17, 2009. John was born June 20, 1927, in Rosecrans, IL, to Mike and Emma Guokas and grew up on their dairy farm. He attended a one room school house, North Prairie, located on 9th Street and Kenosha Rd. and graduated from Zion-Benton Township High School. He served in the United States Army in the Korean War from 1950-1952. John took his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, and took a class at Fort Riley in Kansas for duty in the Adjutant General Office, USFA, with the rank of Sergeant. Following service, John was employed for 30 years by the Navy Regional Finance Center, Naval Base, Great Lakes, IL. John was also lovingly known as "Johnny Appleseed" to hundreds of Winthrop Harbor students for the last 25 years. Survivors include nieces and nephews, Linda, Edward, and Frank Butkus, Richard Kutzler, Barbara (Peter) Martner, Lisa (Steve) Strange, and Mike (Char) Guokas; numerous great-nieces and great-nephews; brother-in-laws Al Butkus and Ray Kutzler; and other relatives living in Germany and Lithuania. He is preceded in death by his father Mike Guokas in 1964, mother Emma Guokas in 1967, brother Leo Guokas in 1975; sisters Julie Kutzler in 1986 and Emily Butkus in 2006; and niece Marilyn Schultz in 2005. The family would also like to extend a very special thanks to Sue Raiden. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, July 24, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Humility Church, 10655 W. Wadsworth Rd., Beach Park, IL. Graveside interment will follow at Mt.Olivet Memorial Park, Zion. Visitation will be Thursday, July 23, 2009, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Congdon Funeral Home, 3012 Sheridan Rd., Zion.