JOHN R. WALTER, 71, of Jackson, NJ, past away on January 31, 2018, at the Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA, of complications from liver failure. John died peacefully with his daughter holding his hand, and his family and close friends nearby.
John was born to Ruloff and Irmalinda (Querciagrossa) Walter in Aurora, Illinois on November 28, 1946, and grew up in Oglesby, Illinois. He was a founding member of the Pi Pentaton Chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa at Northern Illinois University, graduating in 1968 with a degree in Electrical Engineering and with his Master’s in Business Administration in 1976.
John married his wife, Sylvia (Gudac), in April 1969, and they lived in Joliet, Illinois, and Woodridge, Illinois, before moving in 1978 to Middletown, New Jersey, where they raised their daughter. John had a long career in the Bell System, retiring from Lucent Technologies with 29 years of service. In his retirement, he worked as a Product Manager for Systems Link and served as a board member for Project Paul. In 2004, they moved to Westlake in Jackson, New Jersey. John was on the Board of Trustees for Westlake and served as Fire Commissioner for the Township of Jackson, and was well known for writing a column for the Westlake Journal, called “Gourmand’s Corner.”
John was a landscaping and gardening genius. He loved to entertain, whether it was grilling around the pool, or Christmas Eve dinner. He loved to fish and spent many hours with his best friends fishing in Minnesota. He was a huge Giants fan, and a Rutgers football season ticket holder. He loved live music, travel, and taking the back roads.
John is predeceased by his parents, Ruloff and Irma, and his beloved wife of 43 years, Sylvia. He is survived by his loving daughter Elizabeth (Libby); her husband, Nicholas, who was truly a son to him; and the light of his life, his granddaughter, Emily. He is also survived by his adopted daughters Jackie Richter and Jodi Bruker and their families; close friends Anna and Nicholas DiFranco; and favorite niece Lisa Wiers and her husband Michael and their three children, Sarah, Jack, and Owen.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend his visitation from 5-8 PM on Monday, February 5, 2018, at the GEORGE S. HASSLER FUNERAL HOME, 980 Bennetts Mills Rd., Jackson Twp., NJ 08527. A funeral gathering will be offered at 8:45 AM on Tuesday, February 6, 2018, at the funeral home. His Funeral Liturgy will follow at 10:00 AM at the Church of St. Monica, 679 W. Veterans Highway, Jackson Twp. A private cremation will follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions for student scholarships in John’s memory may be made payable to the Northern Illinois University Foundation. They may be mailed to P.O. Box 746, DeKalb, IL 60115 or made online at www.niufoundation.org and would be greatly appreciated. For directions, further information, and to send condolence messages to the family, please select a tab on the left.