Arthur G. Dion Jr.
April 25, 1939 – August 11, 2026
August 20, 2026 – 3:00pm cst
After a life filled with family, friendship, hard work, and cherished memories, Arthur George Dion Jr., age 87, passed away peacefully on August 11, 2026 surrounded by his family. Art was born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, he met and married Jacqueline (Letourneau) in 1959 and together they had four children. After the death of Jacqueline he found new love with Lillian (Kauffman) and they were married in 1986. Together, with her three children, they built a blended family that was filled with love, laughter, and countless celebrations. Art and Lillian resided in Oak Lawn, Tinley Park, Lemont and Orland Park.
Art had a remarkably strong work ethic, working at Lapham-Hickey Steel for 44 years and rose from a machine operator to the role of Sales Manager, one of the top employees in the company. He was a natural born salesman and was praised for his ability to help the company grow. During his many years of service, he never took a sick day. Upon retiring at age 62, he began a new chapter, taking on two jobs that he would continue to enjoy for more than two decades. He worked at Cog Hill Golf Club for over 20 years and also spent 10 years as a delivery driver for Russo & Sons and a local flower shop. He finally retired at age 84 due to declining health, not from any desire to slow down or stop working.
Art had MANY interests and passions and his love of life showed via his zest for each. He loved golf, especially his Wednesday golf league at Oak Hills where he was a participant for over 25 years. He cherished fishing and enjoyed his many trips to Canada with his friends and family. He turned going to estate sales into an art form and was constantly bargain hunting, his love of “stuff” was a source of great joy, stories (and occasional challenges). He prized travelling with Lillian and together they enjoyed many cruises (Hawaii, Europe, Panama Canal, Caribbean Islands, etc.). His love of food was legendary and he had a near photographic memory of restaurants (names, locations, menus, specials, etc.), but he also enjoyed, and was quite good at, cooking. Beyond cooking, dining out and general eating, he additionally enjoyed reading cookbooks and planning for the next great meal. He had a great fondness for ice cream, especially chocolate shakes, banana splits and Rainbow Cones and enjoyed a good cocktail, particularly a Bloody Mary, Moscow Mule, or Old Fashioned, often shared in good company.
He cherished his dogs, primarily his two most recent Kirby and Bella, but also a prior dog Harley, and spoiled all of them rotten. He loved “critters” owls, frogs, turtles, wolves, bears, and especially hummingbirds. He loved to read, with spy novels among his favorites, but he was an enthusiastic reader of all genres, magazines, and newspapers. One of his greatest accomplishments was in bowling, where he bowled a perfect 300 game (including 17 straight strikes). He enjoyed riding his motorcycle whenever he got the opportunity and was a “biker” at heart. He really appreciated music Lonnie Brooks, Van Morrison, and Brooks & Dunn were some of his favorites, but he equally enjoyed anyone playing and was the first to get up, dance, sing and have a good time. He truly had the gift of gab and loved to talk, tell stories and jokes, not only with family and friends, but with anyone he met. He was the life of the party and could light up the room with his beaming smile and electric personality.
Most importantly he loved his family, his sisters, grandchildren, children, in-laws, many nieces, nephews and especially Lillian. He leaves behind his loving wife of 40+ years Lillian (Dion), his children Mike (Julie) Dion, Audra (Pat) Curtin, Dan ( Andrea) Dion and Jeanine Reardon, his 15 grandchildren: Marisa (Bryan Wills), Rachael, Cameron (Dion), Jamie, Kara, Sean (Curtin), Lucas, Kevin, Nate, Cassidy (Dion), Halie, Heather (Ryan), Christian, Lauren (Reardon), and Tyler (Ausick) as well as his sisters Marilyn (Sam) Gray and Diane (Jim) Rabbitt and his sister-in-law Jean (John) Kauffman. He is preceded in death by his parents Arthur George Dion Sr and Dorothea (Robson), first wife Jacqueline, his children Denise Dion, Johnny Ausick and Kelly (Joe) Ryan and his brother-in-law John Kauffman.
In lieu of flowers please make a memorial donation to Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care.
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