John and Ed received their grade school education at St. Mary’s grade school (as did the entire family.) Along with their regular education went the religious instructions necessary for receiving First Communion.

After St. Mary’s, John and Ed attended high-school for a couple of years. Classes at the time were held in the old public school building on Waukegan Road near Green Street, now known as Landmark School. Both boys worked in Deinleins Grocery Store during vacations and week-ends to help with family finances.

1917 U.S. enters the first World War. John was seventeen and left home to get a job. He first worked at the Oliver typewriter Factory in Woodstock and then moved on to Kenosha to the Nash Factory (now American Motors.) He wanted to join up, but Nash made trucks for the army and he was given a deferment.

10/1/1918 - The eighth asd last child was born - - another girl, Viola Veronica. John didn’t even know she was expected until his next visit home when she was ten days old. Was he suprised!

John had switched careers. He left the Nash Motor Company in 1920 to work for Ed Wirfs in his Mens Haberdashery on Genessee Street in Waukegan.

On June 16th 1925 he married Lona Wadsworth at her parish church in Kenosha. Their attendants were Lona’s sister Esther and brother Paul.