Anthony Richard Scruggs

Anthony Richard Scruggs passed away peacefully at his home in the early hours of Saturday, April 6, 2024. He was born April 2, 1959, in Bethesda, Maryland the son of Richard and Elizabeth Scruggs and was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister, Kristine. He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 46 years, Cheryl Scruggs; 3 children, Sarah Sullivan (Tom), Tony Scruggs (Janelle Ditta) and Selina Manning (Brad); 5 grandchildren, Max Riegel, Ella Sullivan, Monty and Noah Manning and Isaiah Ditta; brother Paul Scruggs; sister-in-law Lisa Trznadel (Joe); nephews, Mychel and Connor Trznadel. Tony spent most of his adult life as a truck driver at Federal Pipe and Steel, but his true passion was cooking. He was a barbecue master and even made quite a name for himself locally, winning contests and running a few different restaurants over the years. He spent some time in the spotlight as a beloved contestant on season 2 of MasterChef and then landed as an executive chef in Chicago at a famous BBQ eatery near Wrigley Field. Tony’s heart was always with his family and friends at his home. He loved being a grandpa and taking the grandkids on adventures. He loved to open his home to anyone and everyone. Tony loved his animals, his garden, his yard and the sunset. He loved taking nightly country drives with Cheryl listening to their favorite songs. Tony loved fishing and collecting antiques, especially fishing lures. He was an expert at anything he ever tried his hand at and made so many friends along the way. While the world will be a quieter place without Tony in it, he would want us to all remember the bright smile and laughter that filled a room when he walked in. Keep all those memories of Tony close and ready to share. A Celebration of Life for Tony will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Jensen Funeral Home in Kankakee from 2 pm - 7pm.