Henry C. "Hank" Joern

October 30, 1929 - June 6, 2012

Huntley-Henry C. Joern, 82,  of Huntley, passed away Wednesday June 6, 2012 after an 18 year battle with prostate cancer. Born October 30, 1929 in Chicago, he was the son of Henry A. and Vera (nee Manning) Joern.  Henry grew up in the Park Ridge area and graduated from Maine East High School in 1947. He attended The University of  Florida where he played football and received an Associate of Arts degree in 1952.  He then joined the army where he was a champion boxer and then joined the Army Reserves where he received his honorable discharge in 1961. He married his wife Rita (nee Von Kline) on February 11, 1956 where they enjoyed over 50 years of marriage. He was a union carpenter and worked for his father until he started his Concrete Contracting business in 1958. Henry was widely admired for his hard work ethic and successfully invested in real estate and the stock market. He worked tirelessly until he retired from concrete work at the age of 77. He enjoyed fishing and family time at his cabin in Minoqua, WI. He also loved gardening at his home in Huntley.  Henry is survived by his children Hope( Scott Grah) Joern, Henry ( Lisa) Joern, James Joern, William (Linda) Joern, Kristina Joern, Marie Joern and 14 grandchildren Melissa, Sean, Robert, Henry III, Michael, Kate, Christine, Erik, Stephen, Brian, Jennifer, Christie, Vera and Lucas and four great grandchildren.  Henry was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Vera Joern, his daughter Susan Meurk (nee Joern) and his wife Rita.  Visitation will be from 2:00 to 6:00 PM Sunday, June 10, 2012 at the James A. O'Connor Funeral Home 11603 E. Main St., Huntley.  The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 AM  Monday, June 11at St. Mary Catholic Church 10307 Dundee/Huntley Rd., Huntley.Burial will be in Hampshire Center Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorials in his name may be directed to Hormone-Refractory Prostate Cancer Assoc. Inc. c/o Bruce Laumeister  Treasurer  CTC Corp  PO Box 260, Bennington, VT 05201 or at hrpca.org For information call the funeral home at 847-669-5111.