May your thoughts be always peaceful, and your heart filled with

gratitude to Him who made the country and the rivers; and "may the

east wind never blow when you go-a-fishing!"

Thaddeus Norris

John Vincent Ackerman , Rock Island, passed to eternal life on Friday, April 17, 2020, at home, in the company of family, from a rare lung disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).  He was 85 years young.

Private family services were held at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, 3030 – 7th Ave., Rock Island, with Msgr. Mark Merdian, St. Pius X Catholic Church, Rock Island, officiating. Burial was held at Rock Island National Cemetary, Arsenal Island.

Memorials to St. Pius X Catholic Church or Jordan Catholic School would be appreciated.

John was born on October 5, 1934, in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, the second son of Vincent and Esther (Seitz) Ackerman. He married Trish (nee Polich) on May Day 1965 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Rock Island.

John graduated from Lincoln High School, Manitowoc, and went on to graduate from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and later, Augustana College, Rock Island. He was a proud U. S. Army veteran and a career Department of Defense employee on Arsenal Island, last serving as a Supervisory Plans Analyst, retiring in 1993.

John was an accumulator (or a hoarder) of books (especially those on WW II), militaria, Native American artifacts, nautical items, and hats.  His favorite avocation, however, was fishing, although he did not consider himself a fisherman (he left that to the pros). From local rivers and farm ponds to Vilas County, Wisconsin in search of muskies, to chasing wallies and smallies in Door County, he was relentless, but his favorite destination remained Ontario, where he fished many summers as a young man and later with his sons.

He was an athlete (Big 10), a conservationist, a hunter, a trap/skeet enthusiast, a traveler (both foreign and domestic), a twenty year Florida snowbird, and of late, a knife maker and creator of Native American accoutrements, working with exotic woods, hides/pelts and beads, creating works of art from authentic designs.

John was a storyteller (some called them monologues) and a long talker. He loved to joke, was quick-witted, and a master of the fast comeback.  With his great sense of humor, he was always fun to be with and quick to laugh.  In his company, life was never dull and every day was Christmas.  He loved all things Wisconsin and remained a Wisconsinite in spirit his entire life.  He followed their sports teams fervently (once a Badger, always a Badger), and, of course, loved the Green Bay Packers.

Some memberships, past and present, include: The W Club (University of Wisconsin), life member of the Knights of Columbus Allouez Council, #658, Rock Island Conservation Club, Oak Hill Gun Club, Muskies, Inc., Rock Island Gem & Mineral Club, Saukenuk Canoe Paddlers, Ducks Unlimited, NRA life member and NARFE.

Family members, who he referred to as precious, include his wife, Trish; children, Karen (Gary Anderson), Kenosha, Wisconsin; Paul (Dr. Vinita Parikh), Grand Forks, ND; Mark J., Rock Island; and Lynn (Eric Zeuthen), Lisle, IL; a grandson, Jayin John; brother, Dr. Paul J. Ackerman (Eileen), Columbus, MS; sister-in-law, Marlene Polich, McCausland, IA; and his beloved, furry "Q".  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his parents-in-law, Joe & Kate Polich and brother-in-law, Edward Polich. May they rest in eternal peace.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Tom Ade for his care and concern over many years and Andy N., Unity Point Hospice, for listening and his many kindnesses.

"ON, WISCONSIN!"