John Richard Haayer embarked on his final journey on November 1, 2025. He left this world surrounded by his loved ones in Bensenville, IL, after sharing a lifetime of laughter and love with those he held dear.

He was a blue-collar, hard-working family man who adored his wife Kathleen of sixty years and their children Johnny (Tammy), Christina (William), Chintana, and Connie. He was a grandfather to Alexandria (Stephen), Ashley, Nicholas, Hector, Jaelynn, Katilynn, and Kathalina, and a great-grandfather to Lincoln and Lucy. Before his passing, John was preceded in death by his father Aldrik, mother Beatrice and his brothers Otto and Casey.

John was a man of many talents. He was the proud owner of not one, but two businesses. The iconic Wiggle B's hot dog stand in Ravenswood, Chicago and J HAA Boom dry wall delivery for Home Depot in the Chicagoland area. Let's not forget his time as a distributor for the Chicago Tribune and his adventures as a Butternut Bread delivery truck driver. He was a man who knew the value of a hard day's work.

John's interests were as varied as the many tools in his garage. He loved working on cars, and if you couldn't find him under the hood, he was likely at the greyhound dog races in Wisconsin or cheering at the horse racetrack. To the end, he was a jokester, that even as dementia tried to dim his light, his spirit remained as bright as ever. He was the man who could find the humor in any situation and the silver lining in every cloud.

As we say goodbye to John Richard Haayer, let us remember the echoes of his laughter, the warmth of his embrace, and the twinkle in his eye. He was a man who lived life to the fullest, loved his family fiercely, selfless in his actions and never missed an opportunity to make you smile. And while he may no longer be here with us, the joy he brought to this world will continue to be shared for generations to come.