Elburn's Herra touched many lives
If John "Jack" Herra wasn't at his plumbing business, you could find him at the Elburn firehouse. Or the American Legion. Or out hunting in Lee and Bureau counties. Or traveling the world.
You couldn't miss the cheerful guy in the flannel shirt, painter's pants and suspenders.
Herra, 74, of Elburn, died Monday. His wake is from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Elburn Lions Park, 500 Filmore Drive. The funeral is private.
Herra was nearly a lifelong resident of Elburn; his family moved there shortly after he was born. He worked in the family business, Herra Grocery and Market, and graduated from Elburn High School in 1953. After a two-year stint in the Marines, he became a butcher at the A&P grocery store in downtown St. Charles, and married Florence Altepeter. They had four children.
He was trained as a butcher, as were his brothers, by his father; men in the family had been butchers for generations. When A&P wouldn't promote him to journeyman status, saying he was too young, he quit and went to work for his father-in-law's plumbing and heating business.
Florence died in 1973, and when his father-in-law retired in 1974, Jack bought the business with his brother Rich, and renamed it J&R Herra Inc.
He remarried in late 1974, having met Janet Sue Allen at a bowling alley when she came to watch her brother bowl in a league match. "She was mesmerized by the loud voice at the end of the alley," joked his daughter, Mary Heineman. They had two children.
As if he weren't busy enough, Herra served with the Elburn and Countryside Fire Protection District for 32 years, until 2000. Brother Rich got him in to it. "They needed some help one day and dragged him along - and that was that," said Janet. In those days, the firefighters were paid $5 per call - whether it lasted an hour or was an all-night barn burn, she said. And since the brothers were off fighting fires, the business would be shut down. "Fires came first," she said.
Heineman called her father a "quick wit." He could be quiet, sitting back and observing a situation, she said. "But in the end, he always had the best line," she said.
"He was always ready to lend a helping hand," said Janet.
Herra is survived by his wife, Janet; children Steve, Phil, Mary Heineman, Pattie Pattermann, Alan and Brian; 12 grandchildren; four brothers; and one sister.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in his name to benefit his favorite charities. Checks may be made to the "Jack Herra Memorial" and mailed to P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes may also be sent to the same address or on the Web at conleycare.com.