John Edward Monek

John Edward Monek, 72, of Barrington Hills, died peacefully in his home on November 23, 2025.

John graduated from Lake Forest Academy, Lake Forest, IL in 1971, where he excelled as a state wrestler. He also attended St. John’s Military Academy for two of those 4 years. He went on to attend Regis University in Denver, Colorado, studying History where he had the opportunity to study in Rome, Italy an experience that sparked his lifelong love of world travel. Throughout his life, John embarked on countless adventures with family and friends, gathering memories and stories he shared around warm fires, on cold hiking trips, or whenever a willing listener was nearby.

In the late 1970s, John and his brother, Frank, founded Surgipath, a medical supply company they built with dedication and hard work. John found equal success in his personal life. He met the love of his life, Becky, in 1980. They were married in 1983 and together they shared 42 wonderful years of marriage. Their home was filled with love, joy, and the laughter of their four children.

John was an avid outdoorsman who found peace and purpose in nature. He loved skiing, hunting, fishing, gardening, hiking, and searching for arrowheads. He was a passionate collector of antique walking sticks, arrowheads, and wine. One of his greatest dreams was to teach his grandchildren to ski at the family ranch.

Over the course of his life, John accomplished an impressive number of personal goals including completing ten marathons and writing two books but his most treasured role was being “Poppy” to his eight grandchildren.

John will be forever remembered for his loyalty, charm, gracious spirit, and forgiving heart. His legacy lives on in the family he loved so deeply and in the many lives he touched.

John is survived by his beloved wife of 42 years, Rebecca Monek, his children, Amy (Nick Rickard) Steensland-Rickard, John Monek, and James (Kelly) Monek, his grandchildren, Tristan, Shelby, Tyler, Nikki, Kennedy, Charleigh, Miles, and Sienna, his siblings, Mary (the late Bruce) Southworth, Susan (the late James) Lindeman, Dottie Davis, Nancy (George) Gaynor, Barbara Collins, Carol (Kirk) Sweet, and Cathy MacArthur, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Jennifer M. Steensland, his sister, Patsy (George) Chappell, and his brother, Francis “Frank” Monek.

Visitation will be Thursday, December 4, 2025, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 149 W. Main Street, Barrington, IL 60010.

Funeral will be Friday, December 5, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Lutheran Church of the Atonement, 909 E. Main Street, Barrington, IL 60010.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation www.cholangiocarcinoma.org

For further information, please contact the Davenport Family Funeral Home 847-381-3411