John R. Waxman

Service : Friday, October 2nd at 12:15 pm
Service Location: Memorial Service
Shalom Memorial Funeral Home
1700 West Rand Road
Arlington Heights, IL 60004

Interment:
Shalom Memorial Park
1700 West Rand Road
Arlington Heights

Shiva Information

The family is receiving calls of condolence at:
Original Bagel & Bialy
105 McHenry Road
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089

Friday 1:15 PM – 5 PM

Contributions
National Kidney Foundation
http://www.kidney.org
or
American Macular Degeneration Foundation
http://www.macular.org/

John R. Waxman, 75, passed away peacefully on September 27, 2026. Beloved husband and lifelong partner of Janet “Jan” (nee Levin) for 52 incredible years; loving father of Holly Waxman and Jennifer (Filipp Kirik) Koshak; cherished papa of Cash, Quinn and Coco; beloved son of the late Louis and Shirley Waxman, brother of Scott (Madeleine) Waxman and the late Andrea “Honey” Bruneau; fond uncle of David (Briana) Waxman, Lesley (Daniel) Schockett and Jeff Waxman, treasured friend to many, and fearless leader of The Sherwood Group. John was raised on the South Side of Chicago, and later moved to the North Side, where he fell in love with Jan as teenagers. The two married in their early 20s and began raising their family, first moving to the suburbs before eventually settling in Buffalo Grove. If you’ve ever been around John and Jan, you may have been confused hearing them affectionately refer to one another as Mike, Mikey, or Michael-a funny nickname that started on their Hawaiian honeymoon. John was a fiercely dedicated business owner who took tremendous pride in his company and work. Running The Sherwood Group was much more than a career-it was his true passion. He cared deeply about the people around him and always stood up for what he believed was right, advocating for fairness and equal treatment for all. His clients and staff often described him as an exceptional leader who genuinely cared about others and was incredibly generous with his time, knowledge and heart. John traveled frequently for work throughout his career, attending conventions all over the country. When John wasn’t working or spending time with his family, he could be found cheering on his favorite Chicago teams. A die-hard sports fan, he faithfully followed the Cubs, the Bulls, and da Bears. He was also an avid reader, enjoying political thrillers by authors like Nelson DeMille and David Baldacci, and loved the challenge of completing a good crossword puzzle-in ink, of course. He enjoyed keeping up with current events and the news, and always looked forward to his weekly Bill Maher date with Jan. John loved playing the dashboard drums to classic rock while driving, indulging in Fish Keg’s fried shrimp or a Charlie Beinlich cheeseburger, getting kisses from his grand pups Bowie and Frank, and, most of all, spending time with his small but mighty family. Of all the accomplishments in his life, becoming a grandfather was perhaps his greatest joy. John’s three grandchildren were truly the apple of his eye, and he treasured every moment spent with Cash, Quinn and Coco. John’s generous spirit, brilliant mind, strong sense of fairness, wicked sense of humor, and unwavering love for his tribe will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by his family, friends, clients and all whose lives he touched. Memorial donations in John’s name may be made to: National Kidney Foundation, info@kidney.org or American Macular Degeneration Foundation,https://www.macular.org. Memorial service, Friday, October 2, 2026, at 12:15 PM at Shalom Memorial Funeral Home, 1700 W. Rand Road, Arlington Heights. Interment Private. For the link to view the service, shiva information and to leave condolences, visit www.shalommemorial.org or call (847) 255-3520.