Naperville teacher always taught kids value of being fit

They didn't call John F. Lies "Crazy Legs" for nothing.

The longtime Naperville physical education teacher and track coach competed in no less than 30 marathons in Chicago, California and Boston.

And his dedication to teaching kids the importance of physical fitness was, well, relentless. Mr. Lies died last week after being diagnosed last fall with pancreatic cancer.

Up until January, he was still coaching at Washington Junior High School.

"He loved people and tried to lead by example," said his wife, Jacque. "He never quit."

To honor his work, Naperville Central High School also named an annual invitational gymnastics tournament in his honor. Mr. Lies coached both gymnastics and wrestling at the school for the last 27 years.

Mr. Lies spent nearly all of his life living in or near Naperville. He was born in Oct. 23, 1948, in Aurora. His family moved a few years later to Naperville.

Mr. Lies attended what was then Naperville Community High School. He moved back to Naperville after graduating from Western Illinois University.

"He enjoyed his time growing up here and wanted to raise his kids here, too," said his son, Jeff.

After earning his master's degree from Northern Illinois University, Mr. Lies taught physical education at Steeple Run Elementary School in Naperville for 35 years. When he wasn't teaching, Mr. Lies was coaching at Naperville Central or at Washington Junior High School.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. today at Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home, 44 S. Mill St. in Naperville. Burial will follow at Lincoln Memorial Park in Aurora.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Naperville Central High School or Steeple Run Elementary School through the Naperville Education Foundation, 203 W. Hillside Drive in Naperville.