In response to my op-ed piece in Sunday’s Tribune, I received a number of questions about Johnny Lindquist’s parents.
Here’s what I have found out:
- His biological father Jimmy Lindquist, 57, died in Peoria on March 16, 1999. It appears that he and Johnny’s mother were divorced.
- His foster father Robert Karvanek, 72, died in Wittenberg, Wisconsin, on February 8, 2003. He and Johnny’s foster mother Florence Karvanek were divorced.
- His biological mother Irene Lindquist, 60, died in Peoria on January 20, 2007.
- Robert Karvanek Jr., the other foster son of the Karvaneks, died in Panama City, Florida, on January 27, 2010.
Patrick T. Reardon
5.22.17
Written by : Patrick T. Reardon
For more than three decades Patrick T. Reardon was an urban affairs writer, a feature writer, a columnist, and an editor for the Chicago Tribune. In 2000 he was one of a team of 50 staff members who won a Pulitzer Prize for explanatory reporting. Now a freelance writer and poet, he has contributed chapters to several books and is the author of Faith Stripped to Its Essence. His website is https://patricktreardon.com/.
I didn’t read your recent story…however I was in my early teens when Johnny passed away however I recall a lot of it in the news at the time very sad. Its good that you did do a story on this it shows he was not forgotten, thank you for that.
feel free to contact me …….
xxx
My dad and Bob were best friends. He was my uncle Bob and spent lots of time at his house in Tigerton
Florence and Bob were my Aunt and Uncle. Johnny I considered my cousin. We used to play at each others homes and saw each other at all family gatherings. When my Mom told me that Johnny was going back to his parents I was very sad. Shortly after the return of Johnny my Mom had to tell me that he had died. At the age of 7 it hit me very hard. The horrific way that his biological parents treated him was just plain in humane. I remember at the funeral his biological mother was crying and I said very loudly, “what is she doing here?” My Mom had to take me outside because I was so upset. Any human being that ties a child up to a door and proceeds to burn them with lit cigarettes does not get to mourn.
Were the parents prosecuted?
Both were convicted. Here’s a link to my original story: https://patricktreardon.com/chicago-history-the-short-life-and-tragic-death-of-johnny-lindquist/