Jack R. Houk

Jack R. Houk, age 84, lifelong resident of St. Anne, peacefully passed away the evening of Friday, March 22, 2024, with his family by his side. He was born October 19, 1939, in Kankakee the son of Floyd and Irene Houk. Jack graduated St. Anne High School in 1957 and attended NIU in Dekalb from 1957-1959. He served in the United States Navy from 1959 until 1963. Following his time in the Navy, he attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science and graduated in 1964. On October 3, 1964, he married Lucia Ooijen. He was a past member and officer of the St. Anne Township for 30 years; as well as a member of the St. Anne Chamber of Commerce, Aroma Park Methodist Church, and Kankakee County Rural Carrier Association. Jack worked and retired as a rural mail carrier for St. Anne Post Office for 39 years. He was also employed at his family’s funeral home, Houk Funeral Home, St. Anne for many years. Jack enjoyed music, collecting, traveling, and playing cards. Most of all he loved spending time with his family, as well as the laughter shared with him and his loved ones. Jack is survived by his two daughters, Susan (Rick) Hinrichs and Maria (Brad) Smith; one son, Jackie (Dana) Houk; his twin sister, Joanne (Ron) Grubbs and sister, Janis (Gary) Fortin; grandchildren, Ashley (Travis) Brooks, Corey (Andrew) Groff, Whitney (Herman) Gonzalez, Michael (Bree) Hinrichs, Rebecca (James) Hinrichs, Lucy Houk, and Hazel Houk; four great-grandchildren, Valkyrie, Aries, Alayna, and Lucia; in-laws, John (Gunda) Ooijen, Antonia (Al) Varney, Adrianna (Denny) Zimmerman, Antonius (Lorita) Ooijen, Petronella Widler, Cornelius (Doris) Ooijen, and Margaret (Ken) Lemke; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Lucia A. Houk; parents, Floyd and Irene Houk; brother and sister-in-law, Glen and Lynn Houk; sister-in-law, Dingena Glenzinski. Visitation will be held at Jensen Funeral Home, in Kankakee, on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 from 10:00AM – Noon. A funeral mass will be held immediately following visitation at St. Anne Catholic Church at 1:00PM. Father Peter Jankowski will officiate. Jack will be laid to rest at St. Anne Township Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sodality of St. Anne.