DETROIT – Chicken Shack founder, John Sobeck, has died Saturday at the age of 92 after a battling cancer for the last five months.
Sobeck, a Word War II veteran, and his wife Iola founded Chicken Shack in 1956.
The couple celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary this past April and this year marks 60 years of business for their well-known Detroit restaurant chain.
Chicken Shack currently has 20 stores throughout the Metro Detroit area.
Sobeck died at his home in Berkley, surrounded by family and is survived by his wife Iola, four children, four grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
A statement from the Sobeck family:
John’s passing will be a great loss, not only for his family, but for all the lives he touched in the community. He was a parishioner of National Shrine of The Little Flower Basilica and supported the church and its leaders in their causes. John also greatly influenced many of the past and present employees of Chicken Shack instilling in them a great work ethic and business foundation that has carried many of them to success today. Customers, vendors and all who met John will feel the loss of his kind spirit and endless generosity.
Visitation and funeral information:
Monday, August 15
Visitation: 2-8 p.m. with a prayer service at 7 p.m.
A.J. Desmond and Sons Funeral Home
32515 Woodward Ave.
Royal Oak 48073
Tuesday, August 16
Funeral: National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica
2100 Twelve Mile Rd.
Royal Oak, MI 48073
Lying in State in St.Therese Chapel at Mass at 10:30 a.m.
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