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In memory of

Jack A. Claes

Burr Ridge, IL, USA

March 6, 1924 - May 24, 2020

Mar 6, 1924 - May 24, 2020

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Jack A. Claes, 96, passed away peacefully of natural causes May 24, 2020. Jack was a beloved father, husband, WWII veteran, and a leader whose creativity and vision shaped award-winning parks and recreation facilities. During his 29 years as the first director of the Elk Grove Park District, Jack oversaw the development of Rainbow Falls Water Park, Fox Run Golf Links, Fountain Square Park, Pirates’ Cove, and the Pavilion Community Center, which was named for him in 1995.

Born March 6, 1924, Jack lived his childhood in Edgewater, New Jersey, which had views of the skyline of New York City and Palisades Park. A daydreamer with a romantic vision of what was possible, Jack carried this childlike wonder through his career. In Elk Grove, children and families are still enjoying ideas Jack dreamed up and made happen, including an amusement park anchored by a life-sized pirate ship, and a community center adorned with a carnival carousel.

In 1943 Jack volunteered for the United States Marine Corps and served honorably in the South Pacific in amphibious battles in Eniwetok, Okinawa and Guam. He returned home and worked as a postman, taking night school classes at New York University in municipal administration, while working with the Edgewater Recreation Department. In 1948 he married Dorothy O’Brien, and together they raised six children. In 1955, Jack took his first job as a municipal Parks and Recreation department head in Vineland, New Jersey. A spark of things to come, he paraded an old Navy jet through town and converted it to a piece of playground apparatus.

From there he moved his family to Great Falls, Montana, where he served as manager of the USO while taking his family on National Parks adventures in the station wagon to Yellowstone, Glacier, and Grand Teton. The Claes family moved to Elgin, Illinois, and Jack served as department head of the Parks and Recreation Department for the City of Elgin, and in 1966, he was made the director of the Pekin Park District. In 1967, he became the first director of the Elk Grove Park District. During his tenure, the park district became nationally recognized for its excellence in programming and park development.

Jack is survived by his wife and partner of more than 40 years, Jean (Vormittag) Claes, and his children Jacalyn (Vange) Claes, Robert (Kathy) Claes, Thomas (Jenny) Claes, Nancy (Vince) Barrett, Richard (Traci) Claes, and Kevin (Heather) Claes. He was the grandfather of Jonathan, Kristin, Matthew, Kelly, Tim, Brandon, Brien, Colleen, Patrick, Grayson, Ethan and Griffin; and the great grandfather of nine. He is also survived by his sister, Catherine Carrano. Due to the pandemic, a memorial service has been postponed.

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