John P. “Jack” Rowe, Attorney-at-Law, of Dundee Township, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded and cared for by his family, on May 21, 2023.

Jack was born in Evanston on March 6, 1943, the son of the late Paul E. and Anna Marie (nee Williams) Rowe. A lifelong resident of the Elgin-Dundee area, he was a 1961 graduate of St Edward Catholic High School in Elgin. In 1965 he earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame as well as his Juris Doctor degree in 1968. He then served three years in the U.S. Navy JAG Corps in Coronado, CA.

Faith and family were at the center of Jack’s life. His three children were his pride and joy. From early on he and his wife Jeanne taught them values they would need for living a meaningful life. He was a loving, affectionate father, always making time for his kids and cherishing their time together. Jack taught his children to use their gifts wisely in the service of others, especially those most in need. He passed on to them his passion for justice and his sense of obligation to build a world that reflects God’s will. Jack also shared with them his love of music, nature, Cubs baseball, and Notre Dame football. In the summer he always had a large garden. He taught his kids to fish and took the family on many vacations to Wisconsin to catch perch and bluegill. He instilled in his children the importance of education and supported their endeavors.

Jack’s law career was values-based as well. Having met Martin Luther King, Jr., during a law-school summer in Mississippi, in 1973 he joined the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as a trial attorney. In 1990, he became director of the Chicago office; during that long tenure the office, and he, were often recognized for their work in fighting employment discrimination. Through those years he enjoyed mentoring many younger staff members.

Survivors include his beloved wife of 54 years, Jeanne (nee Konzen), whom he married in June 1969; their three children, Brother Paul Rowe (O.C.S.O.), Elaine (Ron) Parker, and Kathryn Rowe; and his three grandsons, John, Justin, and Jacob. Other survivors include his siblings: Judith (Wayne) Van Acker, Richard (Beth) Rowe, Donna (Regis) Trenda, and Laurel (Shan) Nelson-Rowe, many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association or to Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights.