John Wharton Sr.
John Wharton Sr., a longtime resident of Grayslake, passed away Sunday September 15, 2012, at the age of 82. He was born December 17, 1929 in Dayton, OH to Harry and Lucille Wharton. John and Wynelle founded the family business, Wharton Paving in 1954. He was proud to be a member of the Masons. John is survived by his wife, whom he shared a wonderful marriage of 62 years, Wynelle, his children Linda Wharton, John R. Wharton and beloved dogs Willy and Bubba, and Kelly (Janet Dill) Wharton, his sister Vee Jacobson, his great-niece Monique, and many loving family, extended family from Nashville, TN, Birmingham, AL, and Reno, NV. We would like to give a special thanks to John’s caregivers, Bobby, Jackie, Phillip, and Raymond for all of their kindness over the past couple of years. He was preceded in death by his brother Harry Wharton, his mother Lucille Wharton, and his father Harry Wharton. All services will be held privately and were arranged by STRANG FUNERAL CHAPEL & CREMATORIUM, 410 E. BELVIDERE RD. GRAYSLAKE, IL. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in John’s name to the Masonic Lodge of Birmingham, AL or the charity of your choice to benefit underprivileged children. Please add your condolences by visiting www.strangfuneral.org. As a family we could not have asked for a more loving father, husband, and uncle.
My Dad,
You made me the person I am today. You were always my hero and will be forever, living in my heart for eternity. Without a doubt, you were always there for all of us, never denying anything, especially love. Everyday was a joy and we have endless funny stories about you. You were the funniest without meaning to be.
Love Forever, Linda
Linda and the Wharton family,
Greetings from a Bethel Collage class mate.
I’m visiting in Grays Lake and happen to see the notice of your fathers passing.
Please accept my condolences on your loss.
Sincerely, Hans
Hans,
Thank you for your kindness. However, you know me from being a Northwest airlines flight attendant. On occasion we were on the same layover in Chicago, and my dad would pick us up from Ohare. You would stay with your brother, and I with my parents.
Regards, Linda
John was a great man and an inspiration to all that knew him. He will be greatly missed. He was so kind to all that knew him. Our condolences to Nell, Linda, John Jr., Kelly and Janet. We love all of you and our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with you.
Love,
Sandy & Don
There are no words to desrcibe what this man meant to me.
)… What can I say… from teaching me how to drive at the age of 6 sitting on your lap in your red Cadillac, to spoling me rotten, taking me on estimates, showering me with love, allowing me to torture you with silly games Aunt Nell and I used to play, spinning your chair in your office, staying the night there almost every weekend or whenever I got the chance, allowing me to sleep right smack in the middle of you an Aunt Nell and keeping you awake with the stories we used to make-up, your McDonalds breakfast every monrning ( and all the workers always calling you by name and knowing exactly what you wanted), reading your paper at your desk and drinking your coffee every morning, your obseession with “warshing your hands” and showering sevreal times a day, your Floresheim shoes you used to put on with your shoe horn, the way you smelled so nice and clean, the way you smiled and laughed…. just everything, and I will always cherish it all and it has made me part of who I am today. Your brother (my grandfather) passed away far too soon, but you picked up the slack for him! And no one could have done it better. You were more than an Uncle to me, you were a role model of what a good father, husband, provider, hard-worker, and a man looked like. Your love and marriage to Aunt Nell is one that I have always marveled at and you two didn’t just seem to be married, but rather to be ONE . My dear cousins couldn’t have asked for a better father and watching them all with you, especially the end of your life was a true testament to what love, sacrifice, and admiration looked like. I don’t believe there is one person in this world that could say one bad thing about you My Uncle. To say you will be missed is the understatement of the year. I know in my heart that you are at peace now, and will be waiting for me on the other side. Kiss all our people past for me untill I get there. I am so thrilled my Bella and Sophia got to meet and know you, even for a brief time. You impacted them in just tthat short time as well , and they say “we will miss our Uncle.” Be at peace and go pave those roads gold in the sky! All my love now and always, Your Niece Mo “The Baby”
To My Uncle, My “Wimp” ( a term of endearment my Aunt Nell and I so lovingly gave him when I used to set boobie traps for him to come home to,and he would pretend to be mad, but really wasn’t
“When you are sorrowful lok again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.”
I went to high school with Kelly and I have the most amazing memories of Mr. Wharton. He always made me feel welcome in their home and had the best smile and laugh and was quick with a joke. He was warm and generous and a part of my high school years that I will cherish forever. I was fortunate to be able to visit from time to time since then and Mr. and Mrs. Wharton and I would reminisce and they would tell me stories about their children from their elementary school days. I am thinking of you all and praying for you. I love you.
Mary Kruse Lettenmair
We will never forget you John; you will always be etched in our hearts forever! we will miss you…
We will never forget you John, you will always be etched in our hearts forever! We will miss you…
Bobby, Jacqui, & Philip
We will never forget our beloved John. His memories will be etched in our hearts forever! We will miss you… Bobby, jacqui, & Philip
My Uncle John was an exemplary human being for us all. He was all about family and work, but had a sense of fun and a sense of humor as well. I hope that his illness late in life never overshadows all the happier memories we all have of him — doing his little dance with one hand pointing out in front of his belly and one hand pointing out behind his but, jumping into the pool on a hot summer day, saying “My dear people,” enjoying a good game of poker, thumb-wrestling with his help. He wasn’t one to gossip or say negative things about people, and didn’t want to hear others say bad things about other people as well — I remember him stopping us on more than one occasion. In the winter, if he would go away for a few days, he was always antsy to get back to his home. He lived a good, clean life and put in a good, honest day’s work (daylight till dark) for an honest day’s pay. No tricks, no gimmicks, no smoke and mirrors, no trying to pretend to be something or someone he wasn’t. With Uncle, what you saw was what you got. If I had to sum him up in one word, I would say, “integrity”. My Uncle was the epitome of integrity. Uncle, I love you, I miss you, but I am glad you are out of discomfort and now doing your little dance in heaven. Love you always, Claudene
I hadn’t seen John Sr in a few years. He had known me my whole life, my father Bob Benavides worked for the company when I was just a little girl. Every time I went to the yard with my dad and John saw me he would always reach into his pocket and give me the coins he had. It had been at least 20 years that passed when I stopped by back in 2007 I introduced myself and as soon as I said Bobs daughter he got a big smile on his face and said little Sarah! I send my prayers to the family of this great man. God bless you and watch over you.
In the past 6 months, I have come to know John Wharton through his family and through all the loving people who have surrounded him and cared for him. They have become not only the people I work for but my friends and family as well. I feel a special connection to this warm and loving man because I have personally seen the enduring love manifested through his devoted wife and dedicated children on a daily basis. They are a very special family bonded forever through the devotion of this family focused man. You can see his example through the lives of these unique individuals he and his bride so carefully raised. He has truly left a legacy that will endure and a family to be proud of. I know that I am proud to have known him through them and my heart goes out to them as they celebrate his life and treasure his precious memories. They are always in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. My heartfelt love, Toni
To my father,
we shared the love of the early morning, as this was the best time of day. He taught me to carry on and look past obstacles because all will get better. He so loved life because there was more sweetness than bitterness. He was well respected by his employees, customers, and colleagues, this has become evident the last few days by the calls and tears I am recieving. He has passed on to me the joy and satisfaction of customer interaction. I thought I would struggle to write this but the words came natural as this is the very early morning, and I will do what dad always wanted, “son, just get it done”. I love you dad and will speak with you often.
Your loving son, Kelly
From the guys at Waukegan Tire Grayslake.
We will miss John’s good nature and warm smile.
He was always a pleasure to deal with on a business basis, but we also thought of him as a friend.
Our condolences to his family.
My uncle and aunt always opened their doors and welcomed me in — so often that as a teenager I had my own room to stay in. . . . I can’t think of my high school years without thinking of being at my uncle’s — pool parties and barbeques, playing charades and cards. And softball games (where no umpire could tell his “boys” to get off the field). . . . In junior high he and my dad would take us bowling (Linda got to drink a Pink Lady!). . . . A favorite Christmas memory is of opening our door and having uncle, aunt, Linda, John, and Kelly serenade our family with a Carol (having had enjoyed a tad of holiday nog). . . . I am always amazed when thinking of the love he and Aunt Nell shared — married at 17 and 18, aunt would ride with him while he worked just for his company, and he’d help her with housework just so they could finish sooner and go get something to eat. . . . Lest not forget to be careful when, “the ice is full of driveway.” . . . Uncle, I am happy that you are out of pain and believe in life that there comes a time when it’s best to move on to the next adventure. With the life you lead, I’m sure your new adventure will be a good one.
With love always,
Carole (aka: Susan)
To my sweet father:
He was not only my dad, but a business partner since the time I could walk. Everyone that knew my dad had nothing but good words to say.
A little history. My dad came from humble beginnings. when he was a teenager he began his career as a baby chicken salesman and graduated to selling watermelons out of the back seat of hiscar in the deep south. even though the customers did not have much money, they always managed to have some chickens and melons at a fair price. The car would always come back empty. When he married my mom (Nell) and had their first child my dad showed up at the maternity ward looking like the tin man in the Wizard of Oz, covered in aluminum paint. Why? being the worker he was, he had begun painting aluminum roofs throughout the south. In 1954 my dad began the paving business with a pickup truck and hand roller, it was also the year I was born He and his brother Harry worked together and raised enough money to buy their first dump truck. This all began in Hamilton, Ohio. In the early sixties, my uncle moved to Lake Zurich, Il. and started Wharton Paving, of Lake Zurich.. Business was good, so my father pulled our house trailer to Fairfield and Rt 120 (not for long)My dad would hustle jobs from daylight to dark seven days a week. His four employees and him would pave drives by hand. They would work like no tommorow. On the jobs that were too large, he and my uncle would pool their resources- men- and equipmenttogether. In 1963 we moved out of the trailer to our present location, in Grayslake, Il., home to our current location. He built the business with my mom by his side, and we all worked together as a team. Some employees are still with us. As any businessman will tell you, this was not built overnight. He was a smart man who took pride in watching the business grow and always looked ahead. HE BUILT THIS BUSINESS!!
He was still working into his late 70s, with the help of his wife(Nell) two sons (John & Kelly), and daughter (LInda). As I watched his health falter (and also my Moms), he never gave up. Their is only so much fight in a person. Dad did go the extra mile, but the tank ranout of gas. There will be no more pain and suffering for my dad. If anyone deserves a place in heaven, I can tell you this sweet man is there.
Your loving son, John Jr.
Dowdy- that’s how you greeted me sometimes or what you been doing boy. But however you sad it or what you said to me when I was a young man, always had a lasting impression. I still think about all the good times that you and Harry and Channel and I use to have. You have always been in my thoughts and prayers. Granny loved you and Grandfateher and MaMa loved you, and I loved you too.How could they not, besides our family’s having a deep connection, you John were always a pleasure to be around and such a beautiful human being. Thanks for treating me like one of the family and know that it has always been appreciated. May your family heal there hurt and carry on your legacy. Rest in Peace Uncle
John Wharton loved his family and he loved his business and in time they became one and the same. The family lived in their home. The office was in their home. The equipment was parked at their home. The business day started at their home and ended there. The family worked together and took trips together. The John Wharton family and Wharton Black Topping was truly one and the same. That was John’s desire and he loved it.
John was a “Man’s Man”. He knew what both his family and business obligations and responsibilities were and fulfilled them all. He believed in looking a man in the eye, shaking his hand and never welching a promise. He did it the old fashioned way. He taught his children to work hard, always be honest and that their name was the most important asset they had . . . “so don’t screw it up”.
John was just simply a man with no pretensions. What you saw was what you got but underneath it all John was a great man. I knew this kind and gentle man for 63 years and had total admiration.
May the Good Lord caress your soul John, and though you are no longer with us, you will never be forgotten.
Heartfelt condolences to Nee, Linda, John and Kelly for the passing of this “Great Man”, my uncle Johnny. If I could describe his life using one word, it would be success. Success comes in many forms. He had a successful marriage. He spent his life with his sweetheart Nell, who I have always called Nee. How lucky he was to have her by his side and she to have him by her side.
He was a successful father. He loved his children more than life itself, and they in turn loved him. He taught them life’s lessons, simply by living his life in a Godly manner. Linda, John and Kelly, you have received God’s blessings through your Dad.
He was a successful business owner. You are right John Randle, HE DID BUILD HIS BUSINESS. And he built it the right way. Through hard work, honesty, adversity, hope, frustration, humility, compassion and joy, he built a very successful business.
I will always cherish the memories of my uncle Johnny. You will be missed by everyone who were fortionate enough to know you.
To my uncle Johnny
Your life has truly been a how-to book for walking this earth. I’ve thought about you so much the last two weeks and the laughter keeps washing away the tears. (I didn’t realize the main purpose of our visiting the Milwaukee Zoo was getting those hot dogs and funnel cakes). Your kindness could lift the sprits of everyone in a room and you are the coolest dude I have ever known.
Rest in peace you dear,dear man.
To The Love of My Life,
We were introduced to each other by a friend of mine and hit it off immediately!
John was self-employed and had no intentions of ever working for anyone else.
We were young and in love…At that time one needed permission from their parents to get married in Alabama at an early age so we went to Mississippi to tie the knot.
I will always remember John telling my mother when we left that he would always take care of me and he did for 62 YEARS!
He was a hard working man and dedicated his life to his family and his business.
He had the most beautiful blue eyes and could pass for Paul Newman.
Like any married couple we had our ups and downs.
He loved to drive a nice new car and always took pride in his appearance. He loved to barbecue southern style.
He was a family man from the beginning-Loved children and would have loved to have had a dozen!
I thank God every day that he came into my life and was such a wonderful companion and a great father to our children.
May he rest in peace and we will meet again my love!
YOUR LOVING WIFE…….NELL