John Thomas Slattengren, 72, passed away peacefully on June 26, 2026, in Rockford, Illinois.

John was born on July 27, 1953, in Norwalk, Ohio, to William and Ruth Slattengren. He earned his master's degree and dedicated his career to public service as a Director of Parks and Recreation in Columbus and Marion, IN, as well as Rochelle, where he worked to enrich the lives of countless families and communities through recreation, conservation, and community programs.

John will be remembered for his kind heart, lighthearted humor, quiet strength, and unwavering devotion to his family. He found great joy in spending time with those he loved and took immense pride in watching his children and grandchildren grow.

He is survived by his wife, Katherine "Kathy" Slattengren; his sons from marriage to late wife Judy, Jeff (Sara) Slattengren of Rochelle and Jason (Jessica) Slattengren of Des Plaines; Kathy's children, Autumn (George) Faris, Eric (Amanda) Dilling, and John Gorman; his sister, Jane Slattengren of Libertyville; his nephew, Andrew Leiser; his niece, Mallory Leiser; and his six beloved grandchildren: Parker, Linnaea, Josie, Caedmon, Delaney, and Hudson.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 42 years, Judy Grannis Slattengren in 2019 and his parents, William and Ruth Slattengren.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 30, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Unger-Horner Funeral Home in Rochelle. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, July 1, at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Rochelle, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Rochelle.

John's legacy of service, compassion, and love for his family will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew him. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.  Guest book at www.UngerHorner.com