John 'Jack' Cosgrove

SPRING VALLEY — John “Jack” J. Cosgrove, 91, of Spring Valley passed away peacefully in his home on Friday, July 20, 2018.

He was born April 7, 1927, to Ambrose and Norine (O’Connor) Cosgrove. He graduated in 1946 from St. Bede Academy. Jack married Mary Jane Cassiday of Spring Valley in 1952 and worked for her father, Harry A. Cassiday Sr., at the family business, Cassiday Brothers Wholesale, which was established in 1912. Jack and Mary Jane eventually bought the business and renamed it Cosgrove Distributors. It is currently owned and operated by the Cosgrove family.

Jack was a member of Unipro, the largest foodservice distribution cooperative in the United States, and was a founding board member of the Illinois Valley YMCA. A respected and well-liked Spring Valley business owner, Jack was a man of integrity who put his family and business first and who never forgot a name or face. He was also an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears, Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the St. Bede Bruins.

Jack enjoyed reading, loved books, appreciated music, was a lifelong learner and remained active in the family business throughout his “retirement.”

He is survived by three daughters, Sarah (Peter) Cosgrove Gaumond of Gaithersburg, Md., Nora Cosgrove of Spring Valley and Maria (Dan) Cosgrove Drager of Medford, Wis.; one grandson, Christopher Gaumond of Gaithersburg, Md.; and his partner, Mary Jane Cassiday Cosgrove.

He was preceded in death by a daughter in infancy, Mary Jane; and two younger brothers, Jerry and Robert.

A Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, at St. Patrick’s Church in LaSalle with Abbot Philip Davey, O.S.B., officiating. Burial will be in St. Vincent’s Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3, at the Hurst Funeral Home in LaSalle. Additional visitation will be Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until time of services in the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to a fund that will be established at a later date in Jack's name.

Online condolences may be viewed and remembrances shared at www.hurstfuneralhomes.com.