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Archdiocesan Priest, Rev. John M. Thinnes, Dies

Thinnes was a retired archdiocesan priest, pastor emeritus of Holy Cross Parish in Deerfield

Chicago (Sept. 14, 2022) – Rev. John (Jack) M. Thinnes, pastor emeritus of Holy Cross Parish in Deerfield, passed away Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. He was 84 years old.

Thinnes was born on Jan. 17, 1938, in Evanston. He attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein.

He was ordained to the priesthood on April 30, 1964, by Cardinal Albert Meyer, and celebrated his first solemn Mass on May 3 of the same year at St. Peter Parish in Skokie.

Thinnes served the people of the archdiocese as assistant pastor at Ss. Faith, Hope & Charity Parish in Winnetka and St. Francis Xavier Parish in La Grange. Later, he was associate pastor at St. Mary Parish in Des Plaines, St. Gilbert Parish in Grayslake and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Glenview. He was also pastor of Holy Cross Parish and retired in 2008.

“I will sorely miss Fr. Jack’s friendship, sense of humor, intellect and his voice of reason,” said Rev. John M. Ryan, retired archdiocesan priest and one of Thinnes’s classmates. “He loved the Church and he looked upon his priesthood as a special blessing from God,” Ryan said. “He loved his people and was faithful to them for 58 years.”

All funeral services will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 1775 Grove St. in Glenview. Visitation hours will be held from 10 – 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, immediately followed by the funeral Mass. Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, will be the main celebrant of the Mass and Rev. Jeremiah Boland will be the homilist. Interment will take place at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines.