Judge John Gorman ’64 recently passed away on December 14, 2024 at the age of 82 years old. He was a beloved neighbor and friend of many and will be missed dearly. His obituary is attached below and here is a link to the obituary.
John A. Gorman
May 5, 1942 – December 14, 2024
John Aaron Gorman, 82, of Washington, Illinois, passed away on December 14, 2024, at OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home surrounded by his family and the OSF Hospice Team.
Born in Lincoln, Illinois, on May 5, 1942, to John E. and Lorene Slagell Gorman, John spent his formative years in Flanagan with his mother, sister Mary Gorman Rapp, and the Slagell Family, including his beloved uncles, Harvey and Leroy.
John’s intelligence, generosity, way with words, and hearty sense of humor were cultivated early. With wit inherited from Uncle Harvey, John often quipped, “Go along and get along, it will only cost you money.” Reflecting on his life, he said, “I’m very lucky…I got to marry who I wanted to marry and do what I wanted to do my whole life. And when you come from a little town of 800 people…that works out pretty good.”
He attended Illinois Wesleyan University, where he met the love of his life, Susan (Williams) Gorman. Active in numerous activities, including serving as President of Sigma Chi Fraternity, John graduated and married Susan on June 28, 1964, in Fairbury, Illinois. This year, they celebrated 60 years of marriage. John later earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois.
In 1967, John and Susan moved to Washington, Illinois, to be near John’s family and start their own. Together, they raised three daughters: Kate Gorman, Kristen (Gorman) Jones, and Kerry Gorman. His uncles’ venture, Hillcrest Golf Course, further cemented John’s love for golf, a passion he carried throughout his life.
John’s legal career started at Goldsworthy and Fifield where he eventually became a partner. After twelve years, he was appointed an Associate Judge for the Tenth Judicial Circuit in 1979. He was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court as a Circuit Judge of the Tenth Judicial Circuit Judge of the Tenth Judicial Circuit, and in November 1982, he was elected as a Circuit Judge. In 1990, he was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court as an Appellate Justice of the Third District Appellate Court. In December 1992, he resumed services as a Circuit Judge of the Tenth Judicial Circuit, where he served as Chief from 1994-1998. He was sworn in as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Central District of Illinois in February 2000. He retired from the Federal Bench on February 28, 2014.
Throughout his career, he was regarded as someone who “worked hard and had a good attitude.” He was renowned for his legal acumen, his way with people, his ability to resolve problems, and his all-around demeanor. He made the world a better place. He used his attributes to affect positive change. He helped spearhead the construction of the Peoria County Juvenile Detention Center; he shepherded the concept of an intensive treatment-based program for non-violent, first-time drug offenders in the Tenth Judicial Circuit and the Federal System; he was an integral part of Judicial Education formally and informally, and he helped countless individuals in the legal profession with addiction.
As a husband, dad, and grandfather, he was the rock, generous of heart and spirit. To his family, no matter the size of the problem, he was always there to handle it. He would counsel, “How much do you need and when do you need it?”or “There’s almost nothing you can’t fix.” He would end those discussions with, “I’m proud of you.” You always felt better after visiting with him.
He was a loyal friend. He loved to “laugh and scratch” or “smoke and joke” with his pals and was “never too far from his next good time.” And, some of his best days were spent on the golf course playing umbrella (or as he liked to say, “it was a knife fight, no rules.”)…all for bragging rights.
His love for Susan, his girls, and his grandchildren was evident in everything he did. “Grandchildren are the greatest invention.” He is survived by the following grandchildren: Josie Wells, Tyler Jones (Andrea), Joanna Wells, Ryan Jones, Ellie Hubler, Julia Wells, and Ava Hubler. Each one is cherished in his heart.
He is also survived by his sister, Mary (Roger) Rapp, his brother-in-law, Ray Williams (Ann), and nieces and nephews, all near and dear to his heart.
The visitation will be at Dieters Funeral Home & Crematory in Washington on Thursday, December 26, 2024, from 3:00-6:00pm. A funeral mass will be celebrated by Father John Steffen at 10:00am on Friday, December 27, preceded by a 9:15am visitation. The family would like to thank all of the caregivers, too numerous to count who were so kind to our family throughout this journey.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the River Cup Foundation: https://www.rivercup.com/#/ or the American Heart Association: https://www.heart.org/
Friends and family may sign the online guestbook or send condolences to www.deitersfuneralhome.com
