Richard F. Janko

1927 - 2024

Richard F. Janko
Born: April 26, 1927 in LaSalle, IL
Died: February 22, 2024 in Peru, IL
Richard F. "Dick" Janko, 96, of Peru, passed away on Thursday, February 22, 2024 at Manor Court, Peru.
Visitation will be held from 9:00-10:50 AM Wednesday, February 28 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Peru, where Dick was a parishioner all his life. Mass of Christian Burial will occur at 11:00 AM with Rev. John Baptist Uwigaba officiating and Rev. Gary Blake concelebrating. Private burial will follow in Peru City Cemetery including full military rites conducted by the Peru Veterans Memorial Group. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home, Peru.
Mr. Janko was born on April 26, 1927 to immigrant parents, Martin and Mary (Dolanc), in an apartment above the small corner grocery store his parents owned and operated in LaSalle. His childhood was shaped by the Great Depression and the loss of his oldest brother and his father by the time he was 10-years-old. Up through high school, Dick helped his mother keep the store running and learned valuable lessons in marketing, customer service, and sales. After high school graduation, near the end of World War II, he was drafted into the Army where he served in the 88th Infantry Division. Despite qualifying for a scholarship, he never attended college.
Richard Janko became a titan in the Illinois Valley business community, instrumental in bringing industries and jobs to the area. He formed, owned, and operated Janko Frozen Foods and then, in the late 1950s, switched focus to construction and real estate including Atlas/Janko Building Companies, Permabilt, and Janko Financial Group. Dick, who had a pervasive positive attitude, enjoyed being called a peddler because he had "street smarts" and could sell anything.
As an organizer/leader, Mr. Janko headed the LPOS Chamber, IV Homeowners Association, J.O.B.S., was lay president of St. Bede Academy, and a board member of FNB, Oglesby. He was especially interested in mentoring young entrepreneurs and even created a scholarship fund at the SRCCF for them.
In order to stand out more memorably, Dick was known to settle a business deal with a left-hand shake or jump on a table to emphasize a point. He kept a pocket full of $1 gold coins and handed them out to anyone with whom he had a positive interaction. When he read a book that made an impact, he would buy hundreds of copies and pass them out. He drafted his own Ten Commandments of business and was so full of quips and advice he wrote a book about his life and career. One of the commandments includes the acronym DIN (Do It Now), which he took to heart by invariably acting quickly and decisively.
Business world success was always secondary to family life. After a blind date one year earlier, Dick married the love of his life, nurse Carol Kettman, on September 2, 1950, at St. Anthony's Church, Streator. Between 1951 and 1964 they were blessed with four children. In their partnership, Carol's primary responsibility was to run the household and raise kids. Dick acknowledged that she did the hard, behind-the-scenes work while he received all the accolades. Education was extremely important to both Dick and Carol. They are especially proud that their four children and ten grandchildren all graduated from college. The four children learned their lessons well; all following in their father's footsteps as entrepreneurial owners of businesses.
Richard Janko lived the American Dream, was part of the Greatest Generation, and certainly enjoyed A Wonderful Life.
Survivors include his four children, Michael (Patricia) Janko of Downers Grove, Gary (Susan) Janko of Lake Forest, Mark (Leigh Ann) Janko of Peru, and Lori (William) Janko Wilke of Peru; 10 grandchildren, Michelle (RJ) Meade, Kristen (Chris) Ritchey, Matthew Janko, Katherine Janko Whitfield, Amy (Jason) Gahan, Jennifer (Scott) Andriano, Laura (Andy) Santillanes, Michael Murphy Janko, Mason Janko Wilke, and Emma Marie Wilke; and 17 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Carol, on May 29, 2019; his parents; two brothers, Martin Jr. and Robert; and daughter-in-law, Leigh Ann.
Pallbearers will be his grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation Entrepreneurial Fund or Illinois Valley Community College Nurses Scholarship Program.
The online guestbook may be viewed and remembrances shared at www.MuellerFH.com.