John Rigoni Obituary (1936

John Rigoni, age 81, of Waukegan, IL, died on Friday, January 26, 2018, surrounded by his wife and four daughters, a week after being diagnosed with acute leukemia. John was born in Tezze Sul Brenta, Italy. He emigrated to the U.S. at the age of 14, enlisted in the U.S. Navy at 17, and lived the rest of his life a proud American. John married the love of his life, Janet Schmelter, and together they owned Rigoni Musical Instruments in Waukegan. John will be remembered for being quick to crack a joke and to lend a hand to anyone who needed it. Never content to loaf around, John was active to the end as an all-around handyman, gourmet cook, skilled carpenter, birdwatcher, fisherman, gardener, and sports fan (Go Bears!). John is survived by his wife, Janet, his daughters, Julie (Rodney) Neville, Jacqueline Rigoni, Jennifer (Jason Johnson) Rigoni, and Joanna (Peter) Tekampe, and his grandchildren, Jacqueline, Anna, and Andrew Neville, Stella, Giovanni, and Celeste Escobar, Enzo and Rino Johnson, and Natalie, Vanessa, and Patrick Tekampe. Funeral mass will be officiated by Fr. Patrick Rugen on Saturday, February 3, 2018, at 12:00 p.m. at St. Dismas Catholic Church, 2600 Sunset Ave. in Waukegan. John’s family looks forward to greeting friends at 1:00 p.m., at St. Dismas Hunter Hall at the same address, following the mass. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Dismas Building Fund, 2600 Sunset Ave., Waukegan, IL 60087 or a charity of choice in his name.