John Donald Vargo Jr.

John Donald Vargo, Jr.
John Donald Vargo, Jr., age 90, passed away on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at his home in Shorewood, Illinois.
John was born on November 10, 1935, in East Chicago, Indiana, the only child to John D. and Elizabeth "Betty" (Petrilla) Vargo, Sr. He attended AO Marshall Grade School and graduated from Joliet Township High School with the Class of 1954. After graduating high school, he went on to serve his country in the United States Navy aboard the USS Agerholm Destroyer (DD-826) during the Korean Conflict, where he was assigned as a damage control man with duty taking him to Japan, Singapore, Guam, the Philippines and Hawaii. On September 6, 1958, John married Clarita D. "Toots" Hirsch.
At just 22 years old, while working as a lineman for Illinois Bell, he heroically saved the lives of a father and son from drowning. For his bravery, he received the prestigious Vail Award-one of the highest honors in the entire telephone industry. John retired in 1989, from Illinois Bell in the Joliet area as a construction manager after 33 years of service. Gifted with his hands, John could build nearly anything and was always willing to help with any construction project need. As a master carpenter, he constructed the family home in 1962. He took great pride in creating custom cabinetry, jewelry boxes, picture frames, and display cases, each piece crafted entirely by hand.
John was a member of Holy Family Church in Shorewood, American Legion Post 1080, the National Association of Destroyer Veterans, and the Illinois Bell Pioneers. From a young age, he found joy in the outdoors, spending countless hours hunting, fishing, and collecting hundreds of Native American arrowheads and artifacts. His deep appreciation for nature later guided him into a long and respected pastime as a taxidermist, becoming one of the most sought-after wildlife artisans in the upper Midwest area. John enjoyed his morning polka music, canning and gardening, and he even won the neighborhood gardener contest. For many years, John had his fur companion, a Vizsla named Mocha, who he loved dearly.
John is survived by his beloved wife, Clarita; his children, Diane (Kenneth) Wojtowicz and Donald (Kristina) Vargo; two grandchildren, Kyle (Corrina) Wojtowicz and Alex Wojtowicz; two great-grandchildren, Damon and Dalton Wojtowicz; sister-in-law, Dorothy (the late James) Jenkins; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Danny Vargo in 1965; one grandson, Zachary Vargo in 2012; his brothers-in-law, Donald (the late Margarita) Hirsch and Harold Hirsch; and one sister-in-law, Lorraine (the late Robert "Bing") Gladders.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Memorial Squad.
A Memorial Visitation for John D. Vargo, Jr. will be held on Friday, January 23, 2026, at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black Rd., Joliet, IL, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of memorial services at 11:00 a.m. Inurnment will follow at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery with full military honors held under the auspices of the United States Navy and the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Memorial Squad.
For more information, please call 815-741-5500 or visit his Memorial Tribute page at www.fredcdames.com, where those wishing to honor John are encouraged to share a favorite memory or leave an online condolence.