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John D. 'Jack' Hathaway Champaign, IL QCWA # 14696 |
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John Donald "Jack" Hathaway, 92, of Champaign, passed away at 1:55 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2014, at Champaign Urbana Regional Rehabilitation Center.
He was a loving husband, step-father, grandfather and friend. Jack was born Feb. 8, 1922, in Danville to parents Ferris "Bill" and Helene Meeker Hathaway. He was lovingly raised by his great-aunt and great-uncle, Anna and Owen Hathaway.
He was a graduate of Danville High School.
On August 26, 1967, he married Charlene Brown Buerkett of Springfield and inherited three sons, Jon, Mike, and Dennis, whom he loved dearly.
He served as a master sergeant in the Air Force for 20 years and worked at Cheyenne Mountain Nuclear Bunker in Colorado Springs.
Jack then moved on to work at the University of Illinois as an analyst for 33 years.
Jack valued education and obtained his master's degree in business education from the University of Illinois. It is because of this trait that we ask that donations be made in his honor to the Saint Thomas More Morgan Buerkett scholarship fund at 3901 N Mattis Ave, Champaign, IL 61822.
Jack also had many other hobbies including operating his own amateur HAM radio station, W9LMC. He loved sports and ran track and field at Illinois State University. He played football and tennis. He dearly loved his grandchildren and made sure to attend their sporting events and all of their graduations.
He is preceded in death by his parents; great-aunt and great-uncle; his half-siblings, Robert "Bob" Hathaway, Virginia Hathaway and Jefferson Hathaway; his step-son, Jon Anthony Buerkett; step-daughter-in-law, Dana Lee Ehler Buerkett; and granddaughter, Morgan Lee Buerkett.
He is survived by his wife, Charlene Hathaway of Champaign; his stepsons, Mike (Jennifer) Buerkett of Champaign, Dennis (Jan) Buerkett of Champaign; and his grandchildren, Ashley Buerkett of Chicago, Will (Katie) Buerkett of Charlotte, NC, Karlee Buerkett of Champaign and Kyle Buerkett of Champaign.
Memorial services will be at Morgan Memorial Home, 1304 Regency Dr. Savoy.
The visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, and the funeral is at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov 8.