John Darrah, age 78, devoted husband, loving father of five, loving stepfather of five, proud grandfather of nineteen, and doting great-grandfather of three, passed away peacefully at his home March 23, 2017. Born on December 11, 1938, on Chicago's south side, Jack was the eldest son of Paul and Adele Darrah.

Following his graduation from Mt. Carmel High School, Jack went to Loyola University where he graduated with a degree in philosophy. Jack attended night school while working at the Chicago pipeyard. He graduated from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 1969. He served as an attorney for the Federal Trade Commission from 1969 to 1971. From 1971 until 1973, he was a deputy public defender for the DuPage County Public Defender's Office. Jack was a DuPage County assistant state's attorney from 1973 until 1976. Then, Jack went into private practice at Ryan & Darrah. In 1986, Jack was elected to serve in the State Court, assigned to the Chancery Division of the 18th Judicial Circuit, DuPage County. Jack served in this capacity until 2000, when he was appointed to the United States Federal District Court for the Northern District of Illinois by President Bill Clinton. In addition to his time on the bench, Jack served as an adjunct professor at Northern Illinois University College of Law and The John Marshall Law School. Jack remained active in the legal community mentoring countless attorneys throughout their careers.

Beloved husband of Jeannine Darrah. Cherished father of Jacqueline "Jackie" Darrah (Steve Knapmiller), Nancy (the late Jay) Leinfelder, Paul (Dina Aralles) Darrah, Craig (Andrea Stetz) Darrah, Julie (Brad) Peterson. Father of stepchildren, Lauren (Daniel) Vogley, Justin (Whitney) Custardo, Emily (Dorian) Jarrette, Hillary (Christian) Nunez, and Matthew Custardo. Grandfather to nineteen grandchildren and great-grandfather to three great-grandchildren. Brother of Joan Myers, Jim (Maribeth) Darrah, Joyce Boyer, Sue Carroll, Sharon (Mike) Coogan. Fond brother-in-law of Yvette and Chuck Koubek, Denise and Rick White, Bill and Kathleen Burton, Jamie and Mike Molitor, Bob and Angie Burton. Son-in-law of William and Veronica Burton. Preceded in death by parents Paul and Adele Darrah, son-in-law Jay Leinfelder, brothers-in-law Jim Boyer, John Carroll, Rich Myers, nephew David Myers.