John Van De Graaff

John Van De Graaff departed this life on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. He is survived by his wife, Marion S. Van De Graaff, his brother David Van De Graaff (Pearl), and his 5 children, John Patrick (Vivian), James Davis (Elizabeth), Peter Dirk (Kathleen), Nathan (Wendy), and Janet Katherine. He leaves behind 13 cherished grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, and many other dear friends, including the Nguyen family from Vietnam, and family members, including Janet, Jennifer and Lee Rackham, and his sister-in-law, Sandy, who had the good fortune to know his generous spirit and open heart.

John was born in Ogden Utah on December 13, 1935, seventh child of a family of 11 children, son of Ellen Louisa (Nell) Jackson and John Van De Graaff, a dairyman. He graduated from Ogden High School in 1953, then graduated from Weber State College in 1957. At age 19, he enlisted in the United States Army. There he was trained as a radio mechanic and field wireman. He was honorably discharged in 1956. He graduated from the Northwestern School of Dentistry in 1962. By that time, he had married his first wife, Joan Patricia Seegmiller, (m. March 15, 1957, div. 1985). He started his own practice in the Old Orchard Professional Building in Skokie, Illinois in the early 1970s, and practiced there for almost 30 years. He was loved by his employees and his many patients for his gentle manner and the careful artistry of his dental work.

Always one to have a project, he renovated the homes he lived in with his family. In doing so, he taught himself carpentry, plumbing, tiling, electrical wiring, all the trades necessary to turn drafty old houses into beautiful homes. He renovated four different homes in Glencoe, Illinois during his time as a resident, from 1961-1992.

In 1992 he sold his dental practice, finished work on the house he was renovating, and moved to a former dairy farm on 100 acres outside of Argyle, Wisconsin. Over the next several years he renovated and expanded the house, and landscaped the grounds using locally-sourced limestone. It became a gathering place for his children and grandchildren, for whom it became a place to catch fireflies, go on tractor rides, tell stories around a bonfire, and to experience the simple pleasures of country life with their loving and kind Grandpa.

He was able to live there at Butterfly Hill Farm until fall of 2025, when he moved to the Chicago area for around-the-clock healthcare. He died peacefully, surrounded by loving family and the sweet caregivers and nurses at StoryPoint, who helped provide him moments of joy and laughter at the end of his long, good life.

At his request, there will be no formal memorial service for John. In lieu of flowers, we request people remember him with a small donation to The Friends of the Argyle Library, The Driftless Reading Academy, or the Argyle Food Pantry.