Weekend Search For Missing Ex-Oak Lawn Resident Needs Volunteers

GRANT PARK, IL —The family of a missing former Oak Lawn resident is looking for volunteers to help with a search for the retired Tinley Park high school teacher over the weekend in Kankakee River State Park in Bourbonnais. Dan Jarski disappeared in early September after leaving his home in rural Grant Park.

The search group will meet at 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, at the park to scour a fishing and boat launch area south of Route 102. west of Warner Bridge Road. Anyone with search-and-rescue training and experience is urged to help, according to a statement by the family.

“If you can’t make it at 8 a.m., we need help all day,” Tina Jarski-Riley, Jarski's sister, said. “The morning shift people may need a break. Please try to come and help search for my brother.”

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Along with weather-appropriate jackets and shoes, volunteers should wear orange or brightly colored clothing, Leah Bielski, Jarski's youngest sister. The search location is a non-hunting area, but it is hunting season, Bielski warned. The family is engineering this search before winter weather makes it hazardous.

Jarski, 62, was last seen by his family Sept. 8. He was reported missing Sept. 9 from his rural Grant Park home.

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According to Jarski's wife, Janace, the retired teacher left his Grant Park house in the early morning of Sept. 9. Jarski didn't take his smart phone or his wallet, which was a common occurrence, Janace said. While not taking $900 from his wallet, Jarski apparently removed his driver's license and auto insurance card, his wife added.

Authorities discovered Jarski's unlocked, red Chevrolet City Express van in a hunting area parking lot at Kankakee State Park on Sept. 11. The ID cards he had taken were not inside, and there was no indication that there had been any activity around the van. A spare key hidden in spare tire underneath the van had not been removed, Janace said.

Jarski grew up in Oak Lawn and attended Oak Lawn High School. His mother still lives in the community.

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Other searches involving volunteers, drones and police dogs have been conducted in the area. A candlelight vigil for Jarski was held in October, and family, friends and former students shared their anecdotes and memories about the science teacher, who retired from Andrew High School in 2017.

Jarski is described as 6-feet-2 and around 300 pounds with blue eyes and gray hair. Anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact Kankakee County Sheriff's Det. Brady Bertrand at 815-802-7159.

Volunteers can email Bielski at leahjarski@comcast.net for more information about the search.

Dan Jarski (Photo via Kankakee County Sheriff's Office)