John Tully

John J. Tully, Sr., age 90, passed away on April 20, 2026, at home in Downers Grove, IL, after a brief illness.

Born on August 1, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois, John was the beloved son of Patrick and Annie (Stanton) Tully of County Mayo, Ireland. He roamed the Riis Park neighborhood and attended St. Phillip High School, where he excelled in sports.

After high school, John earned a college basketball scholarship but was sidelined by injury. He then proudly served his country in the United States Army. Following his military service, he built a successful career in sales, beginning with IBM selling the first electric typewriter. During his career, John was offered opportunities to move into management but chose to remain instead in Chicagoland so as not to uproot his family, always placing them above career advancement. While balancing work and raising children, he became the first in his family to earn a college degree, graduating from Loyola University.

John was a devoted husband to his loving wife Kathleen (née Sullivan) for 62 years, together raising daughter Lynn Bedalov (Greg) and son John Jr. (Shirley). He was an involved and adored Papa to his grandchildren Dr. Claire Brutocao (Connor), Mary Bedalov (Ian Keith), Annie Bedalov, Nora Tully, Brynn Tully, and Johnny Tully; and great-grandchildren Theo and Charlie Keith and Archie and Sally Brutocao.

John was preceded in death by siblings Nancy, James, Thomas, and Patrick. He is survived by Margaret Nicosia (the late Anthony), Kate (Andy Fagiolo), Martin (Joyce), and Edward (Carol), as well as many cherished nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 9 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 4801 Main St., Downers Grove, with a mass to follow at 10:30 am. Interment at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery is private.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to the Leukemia Research Foundation. leukemiarf.org