Jack Forney

J. C. "Jack" Forney, 99, passed away on Monday, Jan. 16, 2012, in Bradenton, Fla. He was born Sept. 20, 1912, in Lancaster, Pa., and became a Libertyville resident in 1946. He was a graduate of Penn State University, completed grad work at Northwestern University and took some courses at the Harvard Business School. Jack was a Navy veteran during World War II and a member of the Libertyville American Legion Post #329. Following his military service, he came to Libertyville and worked as the personnel manager for The Frank G. Hough Company. He began a real estate business in 1958 called J.C. Forney and Co. and was a member of the National Association of Realtors, past president of the Lake County Board of Realtors and was Realtor of the Year in 1981. He served for eight years as a Libertyville Village trustee, was president of the David Adler Memorial Park Association, former chairman of the Lake County Safety Commission and a past chairman of the board of the Central Lake County YMCA. He was on the executive board of the North Shore Boy Scout Council and received the Order of Arrow award and Silver Beaver award. Jack was elected president of the GLMV Chamber of Commerce three times and was a Libertyville Fire and Police Commission member for 21 years. He was also a charter member and past president of the Libertyville Rotary Club and served for 10 years on the Lake County Economic Development Commission. Jack was a former secretary of the Lake Forest College Management Institute and was awarded the Community Service Recognition award by the Lake County Chamber of Commerce. His hobbies included fishing and a great collection of clown paintings, pictures and sculptures. He was proud having been a major part in developing Adler Park and also the Rose Garden in downtown Libertyville. Surviving are his daughter, Anne (David) Howard of Sarasota, Fla.; two grandchildren, Bruce (Marie) Franklin of Juneau, Alaska, and Lisa (Steve) Higgs of Fayetteville, Ga.; three great-grandchildren, Hester Franklin, Emilie and Jacob Higgs; two stepgranddaughters, Carol Howard-Martin (Michael) and their children, Hannah and Julia, Jessica Howard (Charlie Chamorro) and their daughter, Naima Chamorro. He was preceded in death by his brother, Richard Forney; sisters, Elizabeth Brown and Mary Driscoll; and his former wife, Betsy Forney in 1986. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 29700 N. St. Mary's Road, Libertyville. Visitation will be from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29 at the Burnett-Dane Funeral Home Ltd., 120 W. Park Ave. (Route 176, one block west of Milwaukee Ave.), Libertyville. Memorials can be made to the YMCA, Boy Scouts of America or Circus Sarasota, 8251 15th St. E. #B, Sarasota, FL 34243. For information, 847-362-3009 or sign the guest book at www.burnettdane.com.

Jack Forney

September 20, 1912 - January 16, 2012