Local Right To Life Groups Remembers Dr. Jack Willke

Right To Life Groups across the United States paused this pass weekend to remember the passing of Dr. Jack Willke who passed away suddenly on Friday February 20 at his home in Cincinnati. Dr. Willke is shown here in this picture with his wife Barb at the National Right To Life Convention in 1980 where he was first elected as the National Right To Life President. Dr. Willke served from 1980 till 1991 as President of NRTL. Local President Louis Kavanaugh attended that convention in 1980 and took this picture of Dr. Willke and his wife Barb after his election as President of the National Right To Life.

In October of 1980 Dr. Willke and his wife Barb were the Speakers at the Right to Life Banquet held at Ruritan Building in Montgomery where a capacity crowd turned out for this special event. That began a long relationship with Daviess County President Louis Kavanaugh Jr. along with 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 and excerpts from that interview/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 1992 and again in 2003 as it’s Main Speaker. Dr. Willke left as President of National Right to Life and started the Life Issues Institute located in Cincinnati Ohio where he was still very much a part of that organization when he passed away.

The President of Daviess County Right To Life Louis Kavanaugh Jr. reflected on Dr. Willke 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 can only echo the statement made by Brad Mattes the CEO of Life Institute when he said "I can only imagine the greeting Jack received in heaven from the millions of babies whom 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.” Dr. Willke’s Funeral will be this Thursday in Cincinnati.

 

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Pro-Life Community Mourns the Loss of Pro-Life Pioneer Dr. Jack Willke

by

Brad Mattes

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy tePRO-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.