Rev. John (Jack) E. Linnan, CSV, died Jan. 15, 2018 at the Viatorian Province Center in Arlington Heights, after a long illness. He was 83.
Fr. Linnan was born April 3, 1934 in Springfield, IL, the son of John and Mary Ellen (Radigan) Linnan. His parents preceded him in death, along with his sister, JoAnn Shea. He is survived by two nieces, Janet Best and Kathy Sennewald.
Fr. Linnan graduated in 1951 from Cathedral Boys High School, Springfield, IL. He pronounced his first vows as a Viatorian on Sept. 8, 1952 and final vows on Sept. 8, 1955. He was ordained a priest on April 3, 1961 in Louvain, Belgium.
Fr. Linnan received a B.A. in Education from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and a Master of Arts degree in religious education from Louvain as his Licentiate in Sacred Theology. He also received a Doctorate in Sacred Theology, cum laude, from Louvain in 1965.
Fr. Linnan taught for one year (1956-57) at Spalding Institute in Peoria, before leaving for Belgium to complete his advanced degrees. When he returned in 1965, he taught at the Viatorian Seminary in Washington, D.C. until 1972. He also taught at the Washington Theological Consortium and served as dean, associate director and treasurer. From 1972 to 1974, he served as director of the Center for Religion and Life in Reno, Nevada, while serving as pastor at Our Lady of Wisdom Parish, also in Reno.
From 1974-79, Fr. Linnan lived in Arlington Heights while serving as assistant provincial. In 1979, he became an associate professor of theology at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and in 1981 was appointed as the third president of CTU. He held that position until 1987. After a sabbatical year, he returned to CTU and continued to be a member of the faculty until 2001. He then served as pastor of Maternity BVM Parish in Bourbonnais, from 2001 until 2004. After retirement, he resided in Bourbonnais, before moving in 2011 to the retirement residence at the Viatorian Province Center in Arlington Heights.
Visitation took place Jan. 19, followed by a Mass of Christian burial, both at the Viatorian Province Center. Fr. Linnan was laid to rest alongside of his Viatorian confreres at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, IL.