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* The Ottawa Times…
Former state Sen. Patrick Welch, who represented most of La Salle and Bureau counties for 22 years, died Tuesday from complications of a stroke. The longtime Peru Democrat had recently turned 71. […]
He was 33 years old when he trudged through snow to campaign against Hoxsey in 1982, attributing his upset win to the “sympathy vote” he got from homeowners who marveled at him stumping in the bitter cold.
Welch’s Senate colleagues derided him as a “one-term wonder,” but he proved them wrong. Former La Salle County coroner Jody Bernard remembered Welch as intelligent, knowledgeable and sharp with a “phenomenal” grasp of state government. […]
Welch remained in state government, accepting a 2005 post as assistant director of the Illinois Department of Revenue. Welch retired from Revenue and, in 2011, from practicing law; but his final years were pockmarked by tragedy. His only son Daniel died suddenly at age 25 in 2007 and Welch’s former wife Bonnie succumbed to cancer four years later.
Welch personally was afflicted with dementia, a fact revealed last fall when a missing-person alert was issued for him by Orland Park police. He was located safe in Chicago.
I knew Pat longer than I’ve known anyone else in Illinois politics. I met him in 1982 during his first campaign when I was in college. He was not supposed to win, but, man, did he ever run a smart campaign and he worked so very hard. May he rest in peace.
…Adding… Senate President John Cullerton…
“It’s with a heavy heart that I express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of my former colleague Pat Welch. He was a man with the savvy and the determination to be a true, principled public servant to the people he represented.
“Pat was a fighter for his ideals. He left behind a legislative legacy of equal pay for equal work, environmental protection and investment in local infrastructure. The Pat Welch I had the honor of serving with is the sort of person we speak of when we talk about statesmanship. He will be dearly missed.”
* Obituary…
John C. “Jack” McGuire passed away peacefully at the age of 86 on Thursday, January 2, 2020. He was born on May 12, 1933, in Joliet, IL, to Emmett J. and Mildred A. (née Clark) McGuire.
Jack graduated from Joliet Catholic High School in 1951. He then attended Joliet Junior College where he was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame. He then entered the United States Army where he was stationed in Germany during the Korean War with his twin brother and best friend, Jim. Upon completing his tour with the United States Army, he enrolled at Colorado State College and graduated in 1958. Jack was a member of the football team for both Joliet Catholic High School and Colorado State College.
Jack was a parishioner of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church and a member of the American Legion Post 1080, the Irish-American Society of County Will, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Cantigny Post 367. He volunteered for Meals On Wheels and Cornerstone, as well as various other community organizations.
Jack was elected as a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives. He represented the 86th District from 1990 to 2012 and served as Assistant Majority Leader and former Chairman of the House Aging Committee, where he was a champion of senior issues. In 2012, he also received the Larry Walsh Lifetime Achievement Award. Prior to his election to the House, McGuire served as Supervisor in Joliet Township from 1982 to 1990, and as Trustee from 1973 to 1982.
Jack was an avid runner and completed the Chicago Marathon in 1986. He loved golf and taking family trips with all of his grandchildren to Siesta Key, Florida and South Haven, Michigan. He also enjoyed attending Joliet Catholic football games on Friday nights.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn J. “Mitzi” (Miller); his parents; one son, Thomas L. McGuire; one brother, Paul McGuire; one sister, Helen La Barre; second wife, Patricia; and numerous in-laws.
Jack is survived by his loving children, Kathleen A. (John) Dougherty, Michael E. McGuire and Julie A. (Thomas) Sicinski.; grandchildren, Jillian (fiancé Sean Whitney), Patrick and Michael Dougherty, Thomas, Patrick (Liz), Michael (Amy) and Sean McGuire, and Alexander, Stephanie, Emily and Zachary Sicinski; great-grandchildren, Baird, Shae and Henry McGuire; one great-grandson due in the spring; his twin brother, James E. (Judith) McGuire; sister-in-law, Marilyn A. McGuire; brother-in-law, James Miller; and sisters-in-law, Lois Bernhard and Ruth Ann Campbell. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to Jack’s caregiver, Paddy, who came into his life not knowing the kind of friendship that would develop. Paddy and Jack had a deep connection formed by their conversation and the music he played for him, making every day of Jack’s life better.
Visitation for John C. “Jack” McGuire will be held on Thursday, January 9, 2020, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black Rd. (at Essington Rd.), Joliet, IL. Funeral Services will be Friday, January 10, 2020, at 9:15 a.m. from the funeral home chapel to St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 18 Woodlawn Ave., Joliet, IL, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Romeoville, IL. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in the name of John C. “Jack” McGuire to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Jack was always a man of his word and he had a sweet soul. He was also very proud of his nephew, Sen. Pat McGuire.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 8, 20 @ 1:18 pm
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Both great guys. And Pat could talk faster than anyone (even Rickey Hendon) when he was in the chair on the final night banging out bills. They both will be missed.
Comment by Been There Wednesday, Jan 8, 20 @ 1:33 pm
Jack McGuire was the type of man you only see from his generation. He was kind, funny, and very caring. I know St. Peter and him will be sharing laughs and stories together. Jack, thank you for being part of great memories for the many people who met you.
Comment by Moi Wednesday, Jan 8, 20 @ 1:42 pm
Jack McGuire was a class act. I will miss him.
Comment by Hey You Wednesday, Jan 8, 20 @ 1:55 pm
Couple of great guys. I used to love it when Pat Welch was in the chair and he would ask leave of the body for Ron Burgundy to film the proceedings.
Comment by SAP Wednesday, Jan 8, 20 @ 1:57 pm
I knew Pat very well. He sold me some law books when I first began practicing and he never let me forget ‘what a great deal’ he gave me.
Pat was as knowledgeable a person associated with state government that I have ever known. Approachable, diligent and caring are all words to describe Pat. I have lost a friend and our state has lost a true public servant.
Comment by Tommydanger Wednesday, Jan 8, 20 @ 2:05 pm
Jack was such a kind man. Here’s my favorite story. I asked him to carry a bill that would end very favorable tax treatment for businesses that bought an SUV. After he got some pushback he said “This bill. It’s basically good for the masses!” And with that, he kept pushing it with an impish smile. My condolences to all of his loved ones.
Comment by Dan Johnson Wednesday, Jan 8, 20 @ 2:45 pm
I knew them both. Both good guys and excellent public servants. Bot h will be missed. Condolences to the Walsh and McGuire families.
Comment by Stones Wednesday, Jan 8, 20 @ 3:04 pm
Both men took their respective roles seriously and were well respected for it.
Comment by Flyer Wednesday, Jan 8, 20 @ 3:55 pm
Jack always made time for you and was a true gentleman. Pat was much of the same RIP sirs.
Comment by NorthSideNoMore Wednesday, Jan 8, 20 @ 4:12 pm
Pat Welch was a good man. I knew him well during his time in the Senate, but lost touch with him shortly thereafter. I found him to be wise, friendly, and most of all supremely kind. RIP
Comment by McGuppin Wednesday, Jan 8, 20 @ 5:28 pm
Senator Welch was a worthy and capable adversary. I ran the 1998 campaign against him. And learned so much from that campaign. I know we softened him up for Gary Dahl, but could not defeat him. I know I got his attention because he took out a newspaper ad attacking me personally! Rest In Peace Senator.
Comment by Jon Zahm Wednesday, Jan 8, 20 @ 11:07 pm
I’m sorry but, jeez Zahm, self-aggrandize much? Floating your own boat on a memorial thread is a bit much, is it not?
And, you are correct. PW did not like you, for good reason. As you so aptly demonstrate here.
Comment by TwoFeetThick Thursday, Jan 9, 20 @ 11:26 am