Stan Jakopin

Summing up a person’s life in a few paragraphs is impossible…and Stan’s story is no exception. This is an attempt to relay the story of a strong, joke-loving, deeply loved, smart-as-a-whip, charming, Silvester-Stallone-look-alike, incredible individual whose life took quite unusual twists and turns.

Stan’s early life was a difficult one. He was born in Ljubljana, Slovenia, during World War II. He had memories of hearing bombs dropping nearby and of him not being able to unclench his fists that were frozen in fear. His father was killed when Stan was three years old, so he grew up without a dad, and with very few means. His first job was selling lettuce he grew at the local farmer’s market. His mother moved to Germany when Stan was a young teenager, leaving Stan in the care of some relatives and at a boarding school, but really, no one was looking after him. This part of his story sheds light on the independent, tough-minded, risk-taking person those of us who had the honor of knowing him will understand.

Meeting Jeri in middle school was the best luck he ever had, by his own and all accounts. They got married after college and started their family in Slovenia when their firstborn Peter was born, surrounded by the love and support of Jeri’s family. The decision to immigrate to the US when Peter was five years old was Stan’s – Jeri thought he was crazy but loved him enough to go along with it. Stan, Jeri and Peter didn’t even speak English when they moved here with a total of $600 and two suitcases.

With the love and support of our American friends, who quickly became our family, the Suhadolcs’s, Stan and Jeri grew their life and family in New Jersey, with their middle child, Bobbi, and then their youngest, Jennie. Stan made friends at work but his first best friend was Patrick Mahaney, our neighbor in New Jersey, with whom he shared many fun times and from whom Stan learned a lot about American culture, including all of the swear words, at Stan’s request. Stan worked as an engineer for an international company, who saw his smarts and potential and invested in him, including paying for further schooling at the Stevens Institute of Technology. Stan’s ability to perform well at his job, and his innate charm, furthered his career, eventually bringing the family to Illinois for a new job.

This new job didn’t make Stan happy, so he debated about starting his own company. After a false start or two, Stan – with Jeri’s incredible support – launched Advanced Polymer Compounding (APC), taking massive personal financial risks when both girls were about to start college. It was a stressful time and full of hurdles, but Stan persevered, keeping faith in himself and his abilities, to eventually grow a flourishing business.

The entrepreneurial lifestyle suited his drive and ambition but was terribly demanding, requiring a lot of nerve and more hours in the day than one would think possible. Stan’s enormous energy, and his dedication to supporting his family – along with many blessings – won out in the end and he sold APC, truly achieving The American Dream. He was so grateful for this fortunate ending and appreciated the support and guidance from the whole family and all of his friends and business colleagues.

Since his retirement, he enjoyed worldwide travel favoring adventures over comfort – think the backcountry of Africa, Papua New Guinea, and Alaska. He thrived with the novelty of discovering new cultures, landscapes, food and people, and shared his love of travel by generously providing amazing experiences for his children and grandchildren. Along with the thrill of new places, Stan and Jeri kept visiting their homeland of Slovenia throughout the years, and so all of Stan’s children and grandchildren hold Slovenia as a dear place in our hearts.

The last eight years of Stan’s life was coping with Multiple Myeloma, which was painful and trying. Despite the effects of the disease, and the side effects of the massive medications, Stan did not complain and lived fully, continuing to travel worldwide (with more comfort and less adventure), and enjoying his friends and family thoroughly. His greatest joy lives on in his grandchildren. He lit up whenever one of them entered a room, wanted to know details about their lives, supported them in their interests, and loved them each fiercely. His dog, Pippi, also brought him a lot of joy and comfort in these last five years, as did the rest of his family and all of his friends.

He was an inimitable, witty, “character” with antics and quirks that made us roll our eyes and also smile. The world is lucky to have had him in it, and we will all miss him dearly.

Stan is survived by Jerica, his wife of 63 years; sister Vanda; son Peter and his wife Linda; daughter Barbara (Bobbi) and her husband Timothy; daughter Jennifer and her husband Daniel; grandchildren Rebecca, Amy, Alexander, Maxwell, Abigail, and Zachary; niece Vanda and her husband Andrej; nephew Dari and his wife Kristina; nephew Matija and his wife Diana; niece Alenka and her partner, Jadrenka; niece Nina and her husband Peter; sister-in-law Aleksandra and her husband Tone; sister-in-law Cica and her husband Slavc. He was preceded in death by his father Stane and his mother Julija, as well as his “American parents” Hamell and Phyllis Suhadolc, and their daughter, Donna.

Visitation will be held on Monday, March 2, 2026 from 5 PM until 8 PM at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 149 W. Main St., Barrington. Visitation will resume on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at Saint Anne Catholic Church, 120 Ela St. (Corner of Franklin and Ela Sts), Barrington from 9:30 AM until the funeral mass at 10:30 AM. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Stan's name to, The MMRF | Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, Donate Online

For those unable to attend the Funeral Mass for Stan in person, you can attend virtually by clicking the link below
https://vimeo.com/event/5769278/377c9589fc