Jack Mangurten

Jack Mangurten, age 102, passed away peacefully on September 10, 2025. Beloved husband and best friend of the late Lillian for 69 wonderful years. Loving father of Shel (Nancy) Singer, Irv (Linda) Mangurten, and Barbara (Michael) Zaransky. Cherished “Papa Jack” of Lisa (Daniel Arnow) Singer, Lauren (Cory Grosser) Singer, Erin (Vince) Taylor, Gayle (Matt) Hollander, Lindsey (Eric) Meyer, Brad (Jamie) Zaransky, and Karen (Michael) Alexander. Much-loved great-grandfather of Livia, Sydney, Maggie, Jude, Owen, Leah, Cameron, Colby, Chance, Lily, Sadie, Eli, Theo, Estee, Bernie, Simon, Abby, and Noah. Jack’s life story is truly extraordinary. A Holocaust Survivor, Jack endured and survived four Nazi extermination camps. Affectionately known as “Papa Jack” by his family, he was born in Lagov, Poland, in 1922, to Baruch and Bashah Mangurten, and had five siblings: Sarah, Melvin, Mordechai, Samuel, and Barrel. In 1935, his father was tragically murdered, and his mother relocated the family to Keltz, where they struggled to make ends meet. In 1939, the Nazis invaded Poland, marking the beginning of World War II. Over the next six harrowing years, Jack endured the unimaginable horrors of the Holocaust, the Shoah – the systematic murder of 6 million Jews and over 11 million people in total. While his brother Melvin had emigrated to America before the war, none of Jack’s other immediate family members survived. Jack was imprisoned in four concentration camps: Skarzysko, Buchenwald, Schlieben, and finally Theresienstadt (Terezin). On May 9, 1945, Jack was among 30,000 survivors liberated by the Soviet Army. After the war, he spent time in a Displaced Persons camp, where he met Lillian (Lily) – the love of his life. They married and immigrated to the United States, arriving in Chicago with no money and no knowledge of English. Despite these challenges, Jack and Lily built a beautiful life together. Jack worked as a tailor and eventually opened his own shop at Touhy and Ridge, where he and Lily worked side by side for 40 years. Jack was an active member of Congregation Beth Shalom and took deep pride in his Jewish heritage. He loved playing poker, scratch-off lottery tickets, and the occasional trip to the casino, but nothing brought him more joy than his family. Jack will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him. Memorial donations in Jack’s honor may be made to the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center at www.ilholocaustmuseum.org. Chapel Service Friday September 12, 2025; 11:30 AM at Shalom Memorial Funeral Home 1700 W Rand Road, Arlington Heights. Internment Shalom Memorial Park. Interment Shalom Memorial Park. For a link to view the service, shiva information and to leave condolences: www.shalommemorial.org or (847) 255-3520.

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Service Information

Service : Friday, September 12th at 11:30 am
Service Location: Shalom Chapel Service -Shalom Memorial Funeral Home

Interment:
Shalom Memorial Park
1700 W. Rand Road
Arlington Heights