Boyd W. Jajesnica

Visitation for Boyd Walter Jajesnica, 73, will be on Friday, August 5, 2016 from 3:00p.m. until 7:00p.m. at the Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home, 415 S Buesching Road, Lake Zurich.  A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, August 6, 2016, 10:30a.m. at Lutheran Church of the Atonement, 909 E. Main St., Barrington.

Boyd died peacefully on July 16, 2016, surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren, a day after falling out of a fishing boat on Lake Barrington.  He was born December 14, 1942, in Stafford Springs, Conn., to the late Walter and Stephanie (Krzysztyniak) Jajesnica.

The family later moved to Manchester, N.H., with Boyd graduating from Manchester Central High School in 1960, where he was an all-state football center and linebacker.  He went on to play football on scholarship at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., receiving his bachelor’s degree in business administration.

In 1964, Boyd married Donna (Dow) Joyce.  They had four daughters from 1965 to 1969.  He worked tirelessly as a sales executive for the next 45 years, his family eventually landing in Palatine, IL., before he and Donna settled in Lake Barrington Shores after their retirement.  Boyd was an avid fisherman, an expert in freshwater, deep sea, and fly fishing.  In spite of numerous health challenges in his later years, he continued to fish with his friends and family right up until his final day.  He relished his regular trips to Notre Dame football games, and for fifteen straight years, the family’s annual summer beach vacations.

Boyd leaves behind his wife Donna; his brother Bill of Bellevue, Wash.; and his daughters, Laura (Jim) Bottorff of Valparaiso, Ind.; Chris (Scott) Pappas of Lake Zurich, IL; Stephanie (Bob) Olson of Crystal Lake, IL.; and Sarah (Pat) Foye of Pine Brook, N.J.  He was also the loving grandfather of Margaret and Katie Nagai, Matt and Eric Pappas, Becca and Kevin Olson, and Adam Foye.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to support muscle research at the Beggs Laboratory, Boston Children’s Hospital. Visit http://fundraise.childrenshospital.org/goto/Boyd or make checks payable to Boston Children’s Hospital (please designate “In memory of Boyd Jajesnica”) and mail to Boston Children’s Hospital Trust, 401 Park Drive Suite 602, Boston, MA, 02215-5301.