Richard "Rick" Jayko

Richard 'Rick' Jayko
Richard "Rick" Jayko passed away peacefully on June 1, 2025, after a long battle with cancer.
He is survived by his wife, Gina; his children, Amanda (Drew) Trout and Steven (Samantha McConnell) Jayko; his beloved granddaughter, Isla Trout; his siblings, Larry (Patti) Jayko, Cathy (Jim) Sullivan, Julie (Don) Bush, Jeff (Tracy) Jayko, Paul (Sue) Jayko, and Mike (Annie) Jayko; and his many nieces and nephews.
Rick was born in Chicago and attended Taft High School. It was there that he met Gina - the love of his life, his wife of 38 years, and his partner for 48 wonderful years. Together, they moved to Woodstock, where they raised their two children, Amanda and Steven. Rick worked for 40 years as a flooring installer and took great pride in his craftsmanship - much of his work can still be found in homes and businesses throughout McHenry County.
He loved spending his summers fishing, playing horseshoes, and getting his snowmobile ready for the winter. His winters were spent dreaming of snow - and once it came, he took full advantage, snowmobiling with his brother-in-law Ray and the Woodstock Snowmobile Club as much as possible. Rick will always be remembered with a Pink Floyd song playing or watching a Blackhawks game with a cold Old Style in hand.
Upon Rick's wishes, in lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Woodstock Snowmobile Club. This isn't just a charity close to Rick's heart - this club was an extended part of his family. As Vice President, Rick found some of his closest friends through the club, and many of them became like family over the years. Around Thanksgiving, you would find Rick and the club members out on the trails, spending countless hours setting up routes, rebuilding bridges, and improving the trail system - all to make snowmobiling safer and more enjoyable for the entire McHenry County community.
His family would like to thank everyone for their love and support throughout his battle. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
A memorial gathering will be held on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (a few memories will be shared between 6:15 and 6:45 in lieu of a formal service) at the Schneider Leucht Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home, 1211 N Seminary Ave, Woodstock, IL 60098
At Rick's request: Please wear Blackhawks, Bears, or Cubs attire.