John Vye

Mt. Morris - John (Jack) Burnham Vye, age 85, died on September 11, 2013 in his home. Jack was born February 15, 1928 in Baltimore, MD, the son of Vidian B. and Alysse V. (Wagner) Vye. He graduated from Waukesha High School in 1945 and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He served from 1946 to 1947 in the USN. Jack married Mary Louise Griffith on August 19, 1947. Jack moved his family to Mt. Morris in 1957. He worked at Watt Publishing for many years and then retired from Gorman Publishing in Chicago until retirement. In retirement, he and Lou continued their antiquing activities as members of NIADA. He loved his family and nature. He always had a joke or story for everyone. Jack is survived by a son, John (Gail) Vye Jr., of Rockford, IL. Two daughters: Kimberly Vye of Polo, IL; and Heather (Kurt) Reding of Wichita, KS. Two grandchildren: Meghan (Mark) Frischenmeyer of Carthage, MO; and Andrew "Drew" (Celisa) Reding of Clay Center, KS. Step-Grandchild: Mary Sutton of Rockford, IL. Three great-grandchildren: Alyssa, Claire, and Jeremiah Frischenmeyer of Carthage, MO. Also his beloved pets Aytoo and Matilda. Jack is preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Mary (Lou) Vye, his parents, and a sister Katherine (Vye) Homewood. Memorial services will be October 14, 2013 at 2:00 P.M. in Finch Funeral Home, 405 East Hitt, Mt. Morris, IL. Memorials may be made to the Sano Bluff Bird Observatory and/or the Nature Conservancy.