Mr. John E. "Jack" Rourke III

Devoted to his family 

MERIDEN - John E. “Jack” Rourke III age 70 of Meriden, passed away peacefully at the Hospital of Central CT after an extended illness. He was the devoted husband of Jean (Landon) Rourke.  

Jack was born on March 15, 1954, in Waterbury, the son of the late John E. “Jack” and Eleanor (McCarthy) Rourke. Jack was raised on Hitchcock Lake in Wolcott and was a graduate of Wolcott High School. He then attended the New England Institute of Mortuary Science, but entrepreneurship was more interesting to him. For many years Jack was the local franchisee for Snap-On tools, and he loved his company and his many customers and friends. Jack enjoyed all those activities that related to his life on the lake such as boating and having constant family get togethers on the lake for picnics, holidays and weekends. Jack loved the lake life and spent most of his adult years on Crystal Lake in Ellington. Jack and Jean were admirers and caretakers of labrador retrievers and Jack was a faithful friend of Bill W for more than 35 years and he enjoyed traveling. What we’ll miss most about Jack is that wonderful laugh of his. Jack was exceptional in almost every way but he excelled the most at being a devoted husband, father, grandfather and brother and he cherished the time he spent with his son and grandson. He will be greatly missed by all those who were blessed to know and love him. 

 Left to honor his legacy and cherish his memory, besides his wife, are his son, James “Jay” Ahern and his significant other, Deann Boyanowski of Wallingford and his grandson, Jared Ahern. He also leaves his siblings: Kevin Rourke of Waterbury, Timothy Rourke and his wife, Mary Ellen of Wolcott, Terrence Rourke of Oakville and Colleen (Rourke) Marcil of Wolcott as well as several nieces, nephews and good friends. 

Funeral services for Mr. Rourke will be held on Monday September 2, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. at Casey's Eastside Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Care, 1987 East Main St Waterbury, CT 06705. Burial will be held at the convenience of the family. Relatives and friends may visit with the Rourke family on Monday from 2:00 until the service at 4:00 p.m. To honor Jack’s memory and in lieu of flowers, donations to the Hospital for Special Care 2150 Corbin Ave, New Britain, CT 06053. Loving-kindness is always welcome, and it only takes a moment to offer a message of condolence and share a memory or words of comfort with the family and friends of someone who was important to you. Please do that on the funeral home tribute page at www.caseyfunerals.com.