John J. Lightner, 76, an electrical engineer, was founder and president, since 1970, of Lightner Automation Inc., Lake Zurich, a service company for electronic components. Mr. Lightner, a 20-year resident of Lake Zurich, formerly of Arlington Heights, was born in Mishawaka, Ind., and died Sunday, March 19 in Alexian Brothers Medical Center, Elk Grove Village. Mr. Lightner attended the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind., until volunteering for military service during World War II. After serving with the Army in the South Pacific, he graduated from Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. “My dad’s love for my mom grew even more as time went on,” said his son Tom. Survivors include his wife, Dolores J.; four daughters, Marguerite, Christine Cruse, Tabeth Gomez and Barbara; three other sons, John, David and Patrick; three brothers, James, Jerome and Joel Lightner; and four grandchildren. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in Ahlgrim & Sons Funeral Home, 201 N. Northwest Highway, Palatine. Mass will be said at 11 a.m. Thursday in St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Church, 1850 N. Hermitage Ave., Chicago.
