John L. Duchane

1930 - 2021

John Leonard Duchane Jr., 91, of Highwood, IL, passed away December 27, 2021. The Duchane family is one of the oldest in Highwood according to the Highwood Historical Society. He peacefully joined his wife Yolonda Eleanor DeSanto Duchane in the "Sweet by and by," after a brief separation marked by her passing this past September. Born in Highwood Il, on August 28, 1930 to Helen Lanigan Duchane and John Leonard Duchane Sr., John was the product of a generational military family. His grandfather, G. Leonard Duchane, was a member of the 4th Cavalry and fought against the Apache Indians led by Geronimo. After a brief stint out of the Army, he re-enlisted and was assigned to Ft. Sheridan. He fought in WWI and is buried in Ft. Sheridan Cemetery. His father, John Leonard Sr., served in WWII and was killed on Leyte Island in the Philippines when John Jr. was just 14 years old. John Sr. is buried in Leyte. John Jr. attended St. James School and later St. George High School. With his father gone at a young age, he and his mother Helen managed the best they could. She worked full time, and John worked at a local animal hospital to bring in extra income. John later enlisted in the Marine Corps but did not serve overseas as he was the single son of a widowed mother, and the Sullivan Act prevented him from serving in a war zone. Instead, he served his hitch in Barstow, California. By then, John had married Yolonda Eleanor DeSanto. Their meeting was the result of a blind date Lonnie's friend arranged. On that date, John and Lonnie began a relationship that would last 75 years. They married after a five-year courtship in 1951 and celebrated 70 years of marriage on Sept. 8, 2021. John was a career computer programmer who worked for IBM, Cites Service, and Klienschmidt prior to retiring from Abbott Labs. He was talented and well-liked by peers and superiors. He carried on a lifelong penchant for all things technological. In recent months, he even began using the Facetime app to interact with his son's family in Florida. John and Lonnie's life together was fruitful and blessed - with a loving family, many friends and togetherness. John's life continues to be celebrated by his three children Gary, Scott and Laura (and spouses Karen, Jackie and Christopher Sweeney); Grandchildren Ryan, Liam, Hannah, Peter, Meagan and Erin (spouses Mike and Kyle) and great grandchildren Noelle and Remi. And he will also be remembered by extended family and many, many good and true friends. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, January 8, 2022 10:00 am at Immaculate Conception Church, 770 Deerfield Rd. Highland Park, IL 60035. Interment will be private. For information or directions, please contact Kelley & Spalding Funeral Home at 847-831-4260 or www.kelleyspaldingfuneralhome.com