John E. Juergensmeyer *60

John Juergensmeyer, an Illinois attorney, died Sept. 28, 2014, following the crash of his private plane. He was 80.

After graduating from the University of Illinois in 1955, he received a Ph.D. in politics from Princeton in 1960. He then earned a law degree from Illinois in 1963. Juergensmeyer served in Japan with the Air Force intelligence service, leaving as a captain in the Reserve.

As an attorney, he was the sole proprietor of Juergensmeyer & Associates. He had served as assistant attorney general for the state of Illinois, and as both assistant state’s attorney and assistant public defender of Kane County. He was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1968, representing a client in a patent case.

Juergensmeyer was chair of the Illinois and Chicago Bar Association’s Local Government Law Committees. He wrote and lectured extensively for numerous professional associations, and had been on the faculty of four universities. He was very involved in many civic organizations, as well as in both local and national Republican Party activities.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Dr. Elizabeth Juergensmeyer; two daughters; and one granddaughter. An infant son had predeceased him.

Graduate memorials are prepared by the APGA.