Jonas Astrauskas

Jonas Astrauskas, 73, of Orland Park, Illinois, passed away peacefully at home on July 2, 2025, with his beloved wife and family by his side. His journey on earth was marked by love, compassion, and unwavering faith in God. We ask that you remember him not for the way his life ended but for the way it was lived and for the profound impact it had on the lives of those who had the pleasure of knowing Jonas.

Born in Chicago to Antanas and Salomeja (Sipaila) Astrauskas, Jonas grew up in a close-knit community that nurtured his strong values and deep love for family and heritage. He attended Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Elementary School and graduated from St. Laurence High School in Burbank. He went on to earn his undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, and a master's in public administration from the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Jonas served with distinction in the Chicago Police Department for over 30 years, rising through the ranks from patrolman to security specialist within the Detached Services subunit. Respected for his quiet strength, steady presence, and unwavering integrity, he left behind a legacy of dedicated public service.

Deeply proud of his Lithuanian heritage, Jonas remained actively involved in celebrating and preserving his cultural traditions. Whether through language, dance, community events, or family gatherings, he kept those connections vibrant throughout his life. A lifelong sports enthusiast, he found joy in cheering for the Chicago Bears, reliving the Bulls and Blackhawks history, and spending time on the golf course, where his wit and warmth were just as memorable as his swing. Most recently, he prayed to Pope Leo XIV to perform miracles on the White Sox.

In May 1993, during an NBA playoff game televised at Tufano's Vernon Park Tap, Jonas met the love of his life, Marianne. What began as a serendipitous evening bloomed into a marriage marked by laughter, deep admiration, and abiding joy.

Jonas is survived by his devoted wife, Marianne (Wolf); his cherished daughter, Gabija (Joseph Rosenzweig); and his beloved grandsons, Hunter and James. He is also remembered with love by his sister, Jurate (Jerry) Hughes; niece, Kristina (Andrew) Sullivan; and nephew, Jerry (Rachel) Hughes Jr., and many loving grandnieces and grandnephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Antanas and Salomeja, and his in-laws, Joseph and Cecilia Wolf.

The Astrauskas family extends heartfelt thanks to Anna Graf, Ewa Dybowski, and Katarzyna Stachen for their compassionate and dedicated care throughout Jonas's long illness, to the Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospice team for their comforting support in his final days, and to his longtime speech therapist, Laurie Dolan, whose friendship became a source of strength and joy.

Those who knew Jonas will remember him for his infectious smile and laughter, as well as his unwavering commitment to spreading kindness and love to everyone he encountered. He had a rare gift for making those around him laugh, leaving a lasting impact on all who were blessed to cross his path.

A memorial mass will be held on Friday, July 11, 2025 at 10:30 AM, at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church,15050 South Wolf Road, Orland Park, Illinois 60467-3028. Cremation rites have been accorded with his wishes.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation https://give.cpdmemorial.org/give/142398/#!/donation/checkout

Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, 1407 W. Washington Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607

Donor Support info@cpdmemorial.org 312-499-8899