John A. Dzik

John "Zeek" Dzik — Beloved Son, Brother, Uncle, Veteran, and Lifelong Friend John Dzik — known to family as Uncle and to friends as Zeek — passed away peacefully at Holy Family on his birthday, May 4th, 2026, after a life lived fully and generously. He was 88. John was preceded in death by his parents, Anna (Krupa) and Ignatius Dzik; his sister Arlene (Dzik) Gusek and her husband, Frank Gusek; his nephew Bill Gusek; Sandi’s husband, John Grimes; his brother Stanley Dzik and Stanley’s wife, Shirley (Landow) Dzik; his brother-in-law Ed Vincent; and his life partner, Carole Grocki. John is survived by his youngest sister, Geraldine Vincent; his nephew Eddie Vincent and Eddie’s wife, Kris; his niece Karen Owens and her children, Tyler, Nick and his fiancée Karen, and Emilee Russell; his niece Sandi (Gusek) Grimes; his nephew Steve Dzik and Steve’s wife, Chrissy, and their children, Kyle and Sydney; his niece Tricia (Dzik) Spadafore and her husband, Rob, and their children, Matthew, Ryan, and Charlotte; and Connie Gusek, wife of John’s late nephew Bill, and their daughter, Ashley Gusek. He will be fondly remembered for his laughter, adventurous spirit, and the steady love he gave so freely. John carried youth with him always: brown hair beginning to silver, a lean, tanned frame, and an energy that made neighbors do a double take when they saw him sprinting down Chicago streets. Mornings belonged to his five-mile runs and evenings, to racquetball or basketball at the YMCA. He refused to let age define him — decades of daily stair climbs, even a hip replacement in his late 50s and a pacemaker at 77 never slowed his pace or dimmed his spirit. At a young age, Johnny learned the importance of hard work, making a buck and the taste of freedom. He had a paper route, caddied for the Medinah Country Club, babysat amongst many other jobs and shared his profit with his family. He had a very independent, generous and driven spirit. A veteran who served in the Army and traveled abroad, John spent his working life at Rauland Borg and retired in his 60s. He was not wealthy in money but was richly generous in heart: always ready with a warm greeting — “Hey everybody! How’s it going?” — and ready to give. At Thanksgiving he bought and handed out jackets to people in need; at Christmas he would take nephews to Florida, quietly covering expenses while teaching them responsibility. He delighted in surprising family with gifts and made time, without fail, for his nieces and nephews — coaching, traveling, inventing games, and showing them how to win, lose, and live. When life called for it, John became a father figure to many in his family. In times of loss and hardship, especially within his sisters’ families, he offered their children steady love, guidance, and support. He taught lessons through sports, laughter, generosity, hard work, and everyday example — lessons about confidence, resilience, and the value of a dollar that stayed with them into adulthood. Though he never married and had no children of his own, John’s role in the family was deeply paternal. He was a trusted mentor, a devoted uncle, and a cherished presence in the lives of those who loved him. He had a rare ability to connect across generations, especially with Eddie, Kris, Sandi, Karen, Dave, and Steve, with whom he shared a particularly close bond. He met his life-long friend and partner, Carole, in his early 20s, and they navigated life together. They would travel to each other’s homes frequently, Nevada in the winter and Chicago in the summer plus lots of travel all over but California, Nevada and Florida were always places they liked to vacation a lot. They supported each other and whenever they were apart would talk on the phone daily. Their lives resembled the partnership of Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. Loving life without limits or contracts. John became the heart of the family, keeping everyone connected and informed about one another’s lives. He spoke with his sister Geri every day, sharing memories, laughter, and steady check-ins. He loved conversation, offered thoughtful advice, and took a sincere interest in others. He celebrated every person and family success and had a gift for making people feel valued. Charismatic, loud in the best way, and quick with humor, John lit up rooms and made friends wherever he went — humans and pets alike. He was mindful and respectful of others’ privacy, sharing his joy rather than his burdens. He loved travel, music, books, movies, sports, live shows, exercise and good food; he soaked in sunlight, drank plenty of water, and embraced life with spontaneous trips and impromptu plans. His character blended boldness and humility, energy and dependability — a genuinely remarkable human who left a lasting impression on everyone he met. Irreplaceable and deeply missed, John’s generous spirit and zest for life will live on in the many people he touched. Contributions to his memory may be made to a local charity that helps people experiencing homelessness, in keeping with his habit of giving to those in need.

Tributes

John A. Dzik

May 4, 1938 - May 4, 2026