William "John" Teele, 61, of Chicago, formerly of Marseilles, passed away on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Chicago after a five-year battle with cancer.

A celebration of John's life will take place on Saturday, April 8, 2023, at Seals-Campbell Funeral Home in Marseilles, IL. Visitation will be from 12 to 1 p.m. followed by a prayer service and time of sharing with Deacon Ron Wackerlin officiating, and military honors will be provided by the Marseilles Honor Guard. A funeral luncheon will be held at the Marseilles Lions Club, 511 Commercial St., Marseilles, following the service at the funeral home (from approximately 2 to 5 p.m.).

William was born on August 7, 1961, in Ottawa, IL, to William and Govanna (Pellegrini) Teele, being the third of four brothers. In 1979, he graduated from Marseilles High School and was well-known for his athletic accomplishments in basketball, football, and baseball, for which he received numerous local and state honors. Following high school, he attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on a college scholarship. In 1984, he entered service in the United States Navy.

In the late 1990s, John was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Aviation by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, where he helped to manage the operations of the nation's second largest airport for several years. He was known for his great work ethic and dedication to serving the traveling public. In 2017, he joined a small technology company with The Sierra Public Safety Group, which assists in the management of the City of Chicago's 911 system and technology services.

John was a fierce competitor and an avid Chicago sports fan. One of his favorite sports memories was being in Wrigley Field watching the Chicago Cubs win the National League Pennant with his brother, Terry, in 2016. He often reflected on his youth growing up in a small town playing Little League Baseball with close friends, living in a neighborhood, where people seldomly locked their doors, swimming in local quarries, and having to be home once the streetlights came on.

He is survived by his children, Joshua (Kim) Teele of Nappanee, IN and Jacob Teele of Chicago, IL; his grandson, Clark Jacob Teele; and his brothers, Mark (JoAnn), Terry (Josh Farrell) Teele, and Scott Teele. He was preceded in death by his parents.

His greatest honor was being a father to his two sons, Josh and Jake, who he co-parented with his ex-wife, Deborah Nass (Stanton) in the Norwood Park neighborhood of Chicago. His final victory was battling his disease long enough to hold his baby grandson, Clark Jacob, who was born six months ago.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to Rush Medical Center in Chicago, IL.

Seals-Campbell Funeral Home
1009 E. Bluff St., Marseilles, IL 61341
815-795-5151 www.sealscampbell.com