John Korelc

John Leonard Korelc

Age 87 of Wilmington, passed away Friday July 20, 2007 at Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet.

Born September 26, 1919 in Carbon Hill, IL, John was a son of the late Martin and Anna (Smrekar) Korelc.

On May 31, 1941, John married Bernice Lahey at Saint Rose Catholic Church in Wilmington, IL. John and Bernice owned and operated the J&B Confectionary on Water Street form 1946 to 1957. In 1960 they opened the Dari Delite on Baltimore Street and in 1965, when the business became and independent operation and the menu expanded, changed the name to The Launching Pad Drive-In. Located on Route 53, "Route 66", John and Bernice looked for something distinctive to set their restaurant apart and found it in the form of a 28 foot tall, 500 pound fiberglass green giant with a space helmet. "Gemini Giant" has been greeting motorists entering Wilmington ever since. Although he retired in 1986, John continued to help his daughter Sharon with The Launching Pad, worked in his yard and spent time with his family.

Survivors include his wife Bernice; daughters: Sharon (Jerry) Gatties and Kathy (Robert) Huhn, both of Wilmington; four grandchildren: Cyndy (Tim) Gray of Woodridge, IL, Jay (Rachel) Spolarich of Herrin, IL; Jerry "Pete" Gatties of Fort Myers, FL and Jori (Dann) Taylor of Wilmington; five great grandchildren: Tyler Gray, Emily and Haley Spolarich and Rebecca Taylor; one brother Ed Korelc of Marissa, IL and two sisters: Jennie Olden of Montgomery, IL and Mary Macaluso of Coal City, IL; one sister-in-law: Dorothy Luciano of Wilmington, IL and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

John was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers: Martin and Melvin and three sisters: Ann Perry, Frances Berta and Ursula Hazelton and numerous brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday July 24, 2007 between the hours of 10:00AM and 12:00Noon at Reeves Funeral Home, 219 North Joliet Street (two blocks North of Illinois Route 53 / Baltimore Street) in Wilmington. Funeral services will follow at 12:30PM in Saint Rose Catholic Church in Wilmington, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated with Rev. Steve Bondi officiating.

Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Wilmington.

Preferred memorials may be made as gifts in John's memory to Saint Rose Catholic Church or Kuzma Care Cottage.

Friends may sign the online guest book by logging onto: www.ReevesFuneral.com

Funeral services and arrangements are under the direction of Reeves Funeral Home in Wilmington.