Jack Robert Weaver passed peacefully at Central Dupage Hospital in Winfield, Illinois on October 28, 2023 after a two week hospital stay and 4 year battle with lymphoma.

Born in Hiawatha, Kansas to Glenn and Shirley Weaver on June 23, 1956, he was the third child and second son of a Kansas farm family. Growing up on a farm east of Hamlin, Kansas, he had a happy childhood and learned the value of hard work associated with farming by chopping weeds out of corn and soybeans, feeding cattle and hogs, driving the tractor, doing chores, and making hay. He loved riding his mini-bike around the farm as a kid. Even though he never moved home to farm after college, he was always involved with managing the operation with his parents.

He attended Hamlin and Reserve Grade Schools and Robinson Junior High School. He graduated from Hiawatha High School in 1974 and was the class valedictorian. He received his Bachelor- Degree from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas in 1978 and made many life-long friends at the FarmHouse fraternity. His years at K-State also introduced him to the Navigator organization. Jack completed his Master- Degree in Agricultural Economics at Michigan State University in 1980.

Jack met the love of his life, Connie Jean Hess, at K-State. They married on June 13, 1981. They enjoyed married life for 42 years together. Their son, Trent, joined the family in 1988 and daughter, Elizabeth (also known as Bitsy) in 1993. He was known as “Baba” to his three precious grandchildren, Violet, Forrest, and Adeline. He shared his love of travel with his wife, kids, and grandchildren. This love began during his childhood on a family trip, where when eating a cheeseburger in California he told his parents, “This is living.” During his life, he traveled to nearly every state in the US and to Zimbabwe, Israel, Jordan, the Caribbean, and several European countries.

Jack began his career at Conticommodity Services in Champaign, Illinois as a Livestock Research analyst in 1981. His career took him to Chicago where the company was later bought out by Refco. Rich Feltes, former Vice President of Research at Refco and long time friend said “Jack was an early adopter of new technology that he leveraged to improve workflow and increase customer service. As a valued member of the Refco Research Team, Jack led the way in networking departmental computers for efficient sharing of data bases.”

Jack- work at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange is where he developed his passion for trading commodities, with a special expertise in cattle futures. His aptitude for math and almost photographic memory helped him excel in his career. Jack and other co-workers started a group they called the “Cattle Class” that met each morning before the markets opened.

He formally retired from Refco in 2005 and continued to trade a number of commodities on his own, with the cattle market being his favorite. He was buying cattle futures on his laptop in the hospital the day before his passing.

Being a life-long student of the Bible and faithful follower of Christ his entire life, he also earned his Master- Degree in Biblical Studies from Wheaton College in 2012. Jack- strong Christian faith underpinned his character and treatment of people- lives that he touched. He served as a role model for others to emulate. Jack epitomized Galatians 5:22-23—"Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness, & Self-Control”.

Jack was a member of the Wheaton Bible Church. He and his wife Connie taught a young married couples Sunday School class for years where he touched and influenced many young couples and officiated a wedding ceremony for his niece in California. He also led many Bible studies.

In 2022, he wrote a book “The Bible on Money” to share his wisdom and his thoughts on what the Bible teaches on how to manage money. Jack will always be remembered for being financially astute, for his sharp mind and his love of the cattle trading business. He was a wonderful public speaker and a gifted teacher who willingly tutored fellow professionals, clients, and others with an affirming tone.

Jack is survived by his wife, Connie, son and daughter-in-law Trent and Wendy Weaver of Wheaton, Illinois, daughter and son-in law Elizabeth Weaver and JP Goguen of Urbana, Illinois, grandchildren Violet, Forrest, and Adeline Weaver of Wheaton, Illinois, and sisters and husbands Janet and Chris Pasker of Claremont, California and Rita and Dave Smith of Beatrice, Nebraska, sister-in-law Karen Waner of Warrensburg, Missouri, and brother-in-law and wife Roger and Ravonda Hess of Hutchinson, Kansas, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Randy Weaver, and brothers-in-law Howard Hess and Gary Waner.

A visitation will be held at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main Street, Wheaton, Illinois on Friday, November 10 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life will be held at Wheaton Bible Church, 27W500 North Ave West, West Chicago, Illinois on Saturday, November 11 at 2:30 p.m. On Monday, November 13, a visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon with a short service at 11:00 a.m. at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, 124 S. 7th Street, Hiawatha, Kansas. A private burial service for immediate family members will follow at the Hamlin Cemetery, Hamlin, Kansas where generations of Weavers have been buried.

In lieu of flowers, donations to People- Resource Center, Office of Development, 201 S. Naperville Road, Wheaton, Illinois 60187 and the Trinity Center Food Pantry, 101 South 3rd Street, Hiawatha, Kansas 66434 would be appreciated.

Well done, good and faithful servant!...Enter into the joy of your Lord.

Matthew 25:23 KJV