Obituaries

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Fr. John M. Thinnes

Pastor emeritus

Father John (Jack) M. Thinnes, 84, died Sept. 10. He was pastor emeritus of Holy Cross Parish, Deerfield.

Born in Evanston, Father Thinnes attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1964.

He was assistant pastor of Sts. Faith, Hope & Charity, Winnetka, and St. Francis Xavier, La Grange. He was associate pastor of St. Mary, Des Plaines; St. Gilbert, Grayslake; and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Glenview. He was pastor of Holy Cross before he retired in 2008.

“I will sorely miss Father Jack’s friendship, sense of humor, intellect and his voice of reason,” said Father John M. Ryan, retired archdiocesan priest and one of Father Thinnes’ classmates. “He loved the church and he looked upon his priesthood as a special blessing from God. He loved his people and was faithful to them for 58 years.”

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Deacon Aloysius Memmel

Class of 1977

Deacon Aloysius Memmel, 93, died Sept. 18. He was ordained in 1977 and served at St. Paul of the Cross, Park Ridge.

Deacon Memmel was a Korean War veteran and past Commander of Mel Tierney VFW Post 247. He was a fourth-degree member of the Maria Council Knights of Columbus and a longtime Scout leader of Troop 24 in Park Ridge and recipient of the Silver Beaver, St. George and the Bronze Pelican awards. He was also a proud member of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Catholic Committee of Scouting.

He is survived by his wife, Bette; his children Terence and Kevin Memmel and Kathleen  Azzi; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

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Deacon Paul D. Schmidt

Class of 2001

Deacon Paul D. Schmidt, 79, died Sept. 21. He was ordained in 2001 and served at St. James, Arlington Heights while working as business manager at Holy Cross Parish, Deerfield.

Deacon Schmidt was born in Detroit and grew up in Michigan. He came to Arlington Heights in 1980 after a job transfer.

He served five years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including active duty in the Vietnam War. He died after years of intermittent illness, originating with his contact with Agent Orange.

He became a deacon after retiring from his corporate career and started a second career as a parish business manager at Holy Cross, where he served until June.

He is survived by his wife, Paulette, his children Jennifer and David Schmidt, and three grandchildren.

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Sr. Sharon Jakicic

Educator

Sister of St. Joseph Sister Sharon Jakicic, 91, died Sept. 1.

Sister Sharon had been a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph for 67 years.

She taught at St. Hugh, Lyons; Our Lady of Bethlehem, La Grange Park; Divine Infant, Westchester; St. Anthony; and St. John Fisher. She was principal of St. Mary, Riverside; and St. Anthony; and she served as the gift shop manager for the Sisters of St. Joseph before retiring.

She is survived by siblings Therese Virbickis and William Jakicic.

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Sr. Shirley Thielk

Educator

Adrian Dominican Sister Shirley (Joyce Edward) Thielk, 93, died Sept. 11 in Adrian, Michigan.

Born in Michigan, she was in the 74th year of her religious life.

Sister Shirley ministered in education and administrative work in Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and California and Malawi.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, she taught at St. Clare of Montefalco (1949-1958).

She is survived by seven siblings: Kathryn Warras, John Thielk, Adrian Dominican Sister Dorothy Thielk, Edward Thielk, Margaret Zukowski, Rose Marie Popowitz and Donald Thielk.

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