John W. Kortendick

John W. Kortendick   John W. Kortendick, 89, of Rockford, went to be with the Lord on July 6, 2009 in Provena St. Anne Center.  John was born on December 28, 1919 in Pecatonica, IL, the son of William and Loretta (Highland) Kortendick. John married Mary Odorski on June 16, 1951 in St. Patrick Catholic Church in Rockford.   John graduated as Valedictorian from Pecatonica High School. He was a US Army Air Corps Veteran of World War II.  After the war John received his Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Marquette University and later became a Certified Life Underwriter.  He worked for W.B. Doran Mens Store from 1951 until 1960 and Equitable Life of New York from 1960 until his retirement.  John was a charter member of St. Bernadette Catholic Church, past president and member of Serra Club, member of the Pecatonica V.F.W. Post No. 8416, American Legion Post No. 197, St. Bernadette Seniors Club, the Knights of Columbus, as well as an avid Boylan Athletic Booster.   John is survived by his wife, Mary; children, Rev. Steven J. Kortendick, Thomas W. (Marilyn) Kortendick, Michael J. (Joanne) Kortendick, and Kathy (Jeff) Thorsteinson; grandchildren, Patrick, Nick and Chris Kortendick, and Greg, Dan, and Matt Thorsteinson, and sister, Rita Brinkman.  John was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Bernice Kortendick.   Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, July 10, 2009 at 10 AM at St. Bernadette Church, 2400 Bell Avenue.  Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery in Pecatonica.  Visitation will be held on Thursday from 5 8 PM, with a Christian Wake Service at 7:30 PM, at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Riverside Chapel, 3910 N. Rockton Ave.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Bernadette Church or Boylan Athletics, 4000 St. Francis Drive, Rockford, IL 61103.  Family and friends may