John Claud Prather, a.k.a. “J.P.”, of Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood, passed away May 19, 2025. He was 69.
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, John graduated from Rockhurst High School and studied Business Administration at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. In 1985, he studied for the priesthood and earned his M.Div from Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology in Emmitsburg, Maryland. It was at final vows that John realized that the priesthood was not his calling.
John’s retail career began at Neiman Marcus in Boston, before moving to the Chicago store in the spring of 1989. John was always highly organized. During the early days at Neiman’s Men’s Furnishings, his boss spoke about the perfection of his tie case. She joked that John would look up at the customers from the glass case and, with his impish smile, convince them they needed that very lovely and expensive tie to complete their look.
John then joined Van Cleef & Arpels before branching out to office management in both an independent mortgage company and other commercial real estate management companies. His final position was as floor manager for Goodwill in Evanston.
Raised Catholic, John saw signs of God everywhere. He was attracted to the Franciscan order because they lead with their hearts more than their heads, he said. John liked to sew, loved tradition and ran a balanced fusion between the old and the new. He was emotional and caring, kind and generous. He also enjoyed following the British Royals and was proud that his mother had been a personal assistant to Bette Davis.
He loved his family and community and did all that he could to make things better. He was awarded the Volunteer award at the Leather Archives and Museum (LAM) for the countless hours he put in helping LAM transform into the well-respected museum that it now is. John also worked with International Mr. Leather (IML) as a Contestant Handler.
He was a client, volunteer and donor to Test Positive Aware Network (TPAN) and Howard Brown Health. He was manned the Glogg pot at the annual party T.P. Party for Grocery Land at Broadway AIDS Pantry (originally Open Hand). John and his former partner Dean opened their home to raise funds and personal care items at this annual holiday event. John also worked at the Center on Halsted in a variety of roles, including assistant to the Executive Director.
John was the dear brother-in-law of Cathy Prather; uncle of Joe (Viviana) and Christopher (Melissa) Johnson; and great-uncle of Kayla, Nico, Mia, and Lucas.
John knew no strangers and will be missed by many friends, but particularly by Bob Scarano, Bryan Cardenas, Raymund “R.J.” Voltin, Matthew Schomburg, James Halley, Tony Morono, and former partner Dean Ogren. John loved Bombay and Natasha, the pets he shared with loved ones.
Preceded in death by his parents Claud John Prather and Martha Francis Johnson Prather, brother Joseph, niece Chastity, and his beloved Great Danes.
A Celebration of Life is being planned. Please check here for details: https://www.inclusivefuneralcare.com/obituaries/john-prather-5/#!/Obituary
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to TPAN: https://viventhealth.org/tpan/.
Arrangements by Inclusive Funeral Care, 773-318-1305 or www.InclusiveFuneralCare.com.