Local Right to Life Group Remembers Dr. Willke
Right To Life groups across the United States paused this past weekend to remember the passing of Dr. Jack Willke. Dr. Willke passed away suddenly on February 20, 2015, at his home in Cincinnati.
In October of 1980, Dr. Willke and his wife Barb were the speakers at the Right to Life banquet held at the Montgomery Ruritan, where a capacity crowd turned out for this special event. That began a long relationship between Dr. Willke and Daviess County RTL president Louis Kavanaugh Jr., and members of the local group. At the banquet in 1980, a film crew from National CBS was there to film the event and interview Dr. Willke. Excerpts from that interview and event were shown on National CBS Morning Show to highlight the growing pro-life movement in the midwest. Dr. Willke returned to Daviess County Right To Life banquets in 1992 and 2003 as the keynote speaker. After serving as president of National Right to Life, Dr. Willke went on to found the Life Issues Institute located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and organization where he remained active until he passed away.
Louis Kavanaugh, Jr., president of Daviess County Right to Life, reflected on Dr. Willke’s passing: “I served on the National Right To Life Board as the Representative from Indiana when Jack was the President of National Right To Life and he was a true friend. In 1980 on his first trip here to Daviess County I was pleased to honor him with a Pro-Life Award as he and his wife Barb were considered the parents of the pro-life movement. He was already working in the pro-life movement before the supreme court decision on abortion on Jan. 22, 1973. Jack was an inspiration to me and to the many people that worked in the Pro-Life Movement and he inspired us to keep working for the Right To Life for the unborn. I echo the statement made by Brad Mattes, CEO of Life Institute, who said “I can only imagine the greeting Jack received in heaven from the millions of babies he tirelessly worked to save, joyfully welcoming him home”. Jack will always be remember here in our hearts and continues to be an inspiration for many of us to keep the faith.”
Pro-Life Community Mourns the Loss of Pro-Life Pioneer Dr. Jack Willke
by Brad Mattes
PRO-LIFE PIONEER JOHN C.WILLKE DIES AT AGE 89
CINCINNATI, Ohio (Feb. 21, 2015) – Life Issues Institute is deeply saddened to report that John C. Willke, MD, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Fri., Feb. 20. He was 89.
Dr. Willke, president of Life Issues Institute, and his wife, Barbara, who died in 2013, are widely considered the parents of the pro-life movement. Their materials have been responsible for educating millions about abortion and have been translated into 32 languages.
Bradley Mattes, executive director of Life Issues Institute, said, “Words can’t possibly express how sad we feel. Jack was almost 90 and we knew the time was approaching when he’d join his dear Barbara in heaven, but it’s hard to say goodbye. Jack has been my mentor and colleague for over 23 years and was a second father to me.”
Founded in 1991, Life Issues Institute is dedicated to continuing the pro-life legacy the Willkes began in the 1960s. Dr. Willke often expressed that he did not expect to see the reversal of abortion in his lifetime. His dream of ending the brutality of abortion will ultimately be realized by those he and Barbara brought into the movement and trained.
“I can only imagine the greeting Jack received in heaven—millions of babies whom he tirelessly worked to save joyfully welcoming him home,” Mattes said.