Oak Lawn Village Clerk Jane Quinlan Announces Retirement

OAK LAWN, IL — For 15 years she has been Oak Lawn’s most popular office holder, consistently drawing more votes in local elections than the village’s mayoral candidates. Oak Lawn Village Clerk Jane Quinlan announced her retirement Tuesday evening in a letter to residents.

Quinlan, 64, said she would not be seeking another term in the April 2021 election. Instead, she has decided to retire to spend more time with her husband, Walter, their four children and spouses, and their 13 grandchildren, whose pictures line the walls of her office at Oak Lawn Village Hall. She also plans to devote more time with her husband working in their family-owned funeral business, Walter Quinlan Funeral Directors.

A life-long resident of Oak Lawn's St. Catherine of Alexandria parish — she turned 11 the day of the 1967 Oak Lawn Tornado — Quinlan is an alumna of Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School. She was an active member in several civic organizations, including the local chapters of Rotary Club, Lions Club, Elks Lodge 2254, Oak Lawn Parks Foundation, Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce, the South Institute of Municipal Clerks, Municipal Clerks of Illinois and the International Institute of Municipal Clerks.

As the village clerk, she also worked closely with the Oak Lawn Senior Center, Johnson-Phelps VFW Post 5220, Knights of Columbus, Courage, Oak Lawn Raiders, the Children’s Museum of Oak Lawn, Oak Lawn DARE, EDGE, Oak Lawn schools, parishes and churches.

During her years as village clerk, Quinlan made it a point to attend local events, ceremonies, parish carnivals, village celebrations and youth sports representing the village. A one-time high school athlete and fitness enthusiast, she could out throw male colleagues throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at Westside and Oak Lawn Baseball season openings.

Prior to being elected village clerk in 2005, Quinlan was a working mom raising four children. The village clerk’s position is the only full-time, salaried position on the Oak Lawn Village Board, but does not vote on village matters. As village clerk Quinlan managed to stay above the fray of the village board’s more volatile years. She also completed a rigorous program earning certification to become a “Master Municipal Clerk.”

Quinlan called her 15 years a “true joy, privilege and honor.”

“To the team members/employees of the Village of Oak Lawn, I have had a wonderful experience with all of you,” Quinlan said. “I have all the confidence in the world that you will keep moving Oak Lawn forward for years to come.

“Most of all, I want to thank all the residents of Oak Lawn that are second to none. Thank you for your overwhelming and continued support for so many years.”