John Salajka Jr.

John Salajka Jr., 80, of Inverness, IL died peacefully, surrounded by family on Monday April 15, 2024.

John was born in Manhattan, New York in 1944 to Mary (née Balis) and John Salajka and started his life in a three-story apartment building on Henry St. with Grandparents and an Aunt and Uncle living on the other floors. John attended St. Mary Gate of Heaven and Archbishop Molloy High School, both in Queens, New York. He was a star baseball player at both schools. Throughout his life, John maintained close friendships with several players from his baseball teams and classmates. They gathered twice annually for a Christmas party and a summer trip, calling themselves “The 57 Club”. John attended Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute of New York and studied Engineering. His engineering mindset and love of spreadsheets never waned.

John spent his career in employee benefits recordkeeping and consulting. In 1982 John and his beloved friend, David Goldenberg started AMG (The Administrative Management Group, Inc) and with this, one of the best adventures of his life began.

John loved photography, woodworking, cooking and traveling. He frequently visited Europe and had a fondness for London. His travels took him all over the world including the Galapagos Islands, Antarctica and Svalbard, Norway. His great love became any location in Africa, a continent he visited over 20 times. During his travels, John met many dear friends he stayed in contact with and continued to travel with. John passed down his love of traveling to his children and grandchildren, frequently taking them with him on trips; Including spur-of-the-moment weekend trips to London or New York to see a play, and annual trips with his grandchildren to show them Europe, Canada, and Alaska. When he wasn’t on safari in Africa you could always find John on the sidelines or in the audience at his grandchildren’s sporting events, recitals and performances with his camera in hand ready to capture the memory.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Mary and John Salajka. He is survived by son, John (Peggy); daughters, Wendy McCormick, Jill Salajka, Koren (Haze Bergeron) Salajka, Jane (James) Schager, Kate (Mike) Cowan; Grandchildren, John, Sarah, Anna and Maggie Salajka, Michael, Collin and Evan McCormick, Noah, Elise, Madison, Jacob and Carter Schager, Aiden and Kelsey Hughes; and former spouse and lifelong friend, Jane Salajka (née Miller), mother of their amazing, beautiful, and modest children; brother, Robert “Bobby” (Carol); sister, Joan Miller; many cousins, nieces and nephews, and his aunt, Millie BalisArtura.

Visitation will be on Thursday, May 2, 2024, from 3:00 pm until 8:00 pm, at the Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home, 201 N. Northwest Hwy., Palatine. A Mass of Christian Burial will be said on Friday, May 3, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 455 N. Benton St. Palatine. A Reception will follow in the Lower Dolan Center, St. Theresa Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Tunnel to Towers Foundation or the Wounded Warriors Project.