John B. Roe, known as Jack
Grand Detour, Illinois and Holmes Beach, Florida

Died November 27, 2020, at the age of 78 from a very rare untreatable form of cancer
known as Myelofibrosis.
Enjoyed horse racing, golf, reading and traveling.
Attended Oregon, Illinois Schools. Graduated from Centre College of Kentucky 1964.
Attended American University, George Washington University Political Honors.
University of Illinois Law School 1967.
Elected Ogle County State's Attorney in 1968 and was the youngest states attorney in
Illinois history.
Taught Criminal Justice at Sauk Valley and Kishwaukee Colleges for 5 years.
Admitted to practice in the United State's Supreme Court 1969.
Served two terms in the Illinois Senate 1973-1979. While in the Senate sponsored the
Illinois Campaign Disclosure Act requiring candidates for public office to disclose their
contributors and their expenditures.
Sponsored Governor Thompson's Class X anti crime bills providing for mandatory
sentences for crimes of violence such as murder, armed robbery, rape etc.
Sponsored the Horse Racing Act of 1976 completely revising the administration of
horse racing in Illinois.
Sponsored No Fault Divorce Act.
Obtained the money necessary to construct the Rochelle, Illinois Overpass.
Appointed Chief Justice of the Illinois Court of Claims by Governor Jim Thompson
1979.
Member Rochelle Grade School Board Dist. 230, 1982-84.
Practiced law in Rochelle from 1973- 1995; first as JOHN B. ROE; then as ROE &
MALLON; then ROE, MALLON & TESS.
Appointed Circuit Judge in 1995 by Illinois Supreme Court.
Elected Circuit Judge in 1996.
After retiring as a Judge in 2000:
Member Governor's Commission to Revise and Rewrite The Illinois Criminal Code.
Member of The Board of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum,
Springfield, Illinois.
Faculty , Stetson University College of Law, St. Petersburg, Florida, Adjunct Professor
Certified Florida County, Circuit and Family Mediator.
Certified Mediator U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida and U.S. District Court
Northern District of Illinois.
Florida Bar Association Arbitrator and Mediator.
Certified Mediator and Arbitrator 12th Circuit, Florida and 15th Circuit, Illinois.
Manatee County Florida Administration Hearing Officer.
Arbitrator for New York and Nasdaq Stock Exchanges.
The Roe family has lived in Ogle County since 1837, his Great Grandfather John B. Roe
was the first Doctor of Ogle County, Illinois.

Survived by his wife Phyllis of 47 years, companion, love, best friend, care taker. Son
John B. "Ben" Roe IV (Irene) Roe, Grand Detour; Step Daughter Julie (Jim) Watt,
Oregon, Illinois; Grandchildren, John Benjamin Roe V and Mary Margaret Roe, Grand
Detour, IL; Justin Watt and Emma Watt, Chicago, Illinois. Sister Ruth Roe Arth, San
Francisco, CA.: Many nieces and nephews and extended family members.
Preceded in death by Mother Jane Gilbert Roe, Father John B. Roe II.

Private family burial at Lighthouse Church Cemetery, Ogle County, Illinois. Unger Horner Funeral Home and Cremation services assisted family with arrangements.

There will be a celebration of Jack's life on Sunday, September 26, 2021 from 1:00 - 4:00 P.M., at 770 Lincoln Avenue, Rochelle, IL.  There will be indoor and outdoor seating; masks are requested inside.  Casual dress.

In lieu of flowers, it was Jack's wish that any memorial tributes be made in the form of
charitable donations to: Foundation for Focus House and Community Programming,
P.O. Box 491, Rochelle, IL 61068
https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/FoundationFocusHouse

Guest book at www.UngerHorner.com