Jeffrey Michael Delhaye, age 64, of Palatine, Illinois, passed away on March 19, 2026, just days after his 64th birthday, which, for the record, he probably would have preferred you not make a fuss about.

Jeff was a man who knew exactly how things ought to be done, and was rarely shy about pointing out when they weren't. He had strongly held opinions on a wide range of subjects and could be counted on to share them, whether in person or via a well-crafted social media rant that his followers had learned to read with equal parts amusement and mild concern. He was reliable, consistent, and not particularly interested in your counterargument.

What did earn his genuine enthusiasm were trains. His passion for railroading and model trains was lifelong and serious. It was one of the few subjects on which he was happy to talk at length without complaint. He also reserved profound affection for his pet parakeets and cockatiels, who, it must be said, got the best of him. The great love of his life was Laura, who preceded him in death in 2023 and who was by all accounts one of the very few people who truly understood him.

Jeff is survived by his siblings, Mark Delhaye, Julie Butkevich, Karen (Michael) Metz, and Jennifer (Stephen) Day; his nieces and nephews, who lovingly called him Uncle Fuzzy, Ethan Delhaye, Kyle Delhaye, Breana Delhaye, Danielle Butkevich, Martin Butkevich, Hannah Day, and Norah Day; and his great-nephews, Jasper Davison and Mason Davison. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ronald and Mary Delhaye, and by Laura Kim McCoy.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Greater Chicago Cage Bird Club are appreciated and may be made at gccbc.org/donate.html.  Services will be private. He would have wanted it that way.