Keith ‘Kip’ Jensen, 60, had 34-year career in District 96
Keith “Kip” Jensen, 60, who spent 34 years as a teacher and administrator in Riverside Elementary School District 96, died April 13, 2005 at his Naperville home after a battle with leukemia and lymphoma.
Mr. Jensen was hired by District 96 in 1970 as a teacher, working his way to assistant superintendent by the 1980s. After 1992, when Dr. David Bonnette was hired as superintendent, Mr. Jensen took on a part-time role as principal of Blythe Park School, retaining his position in the superintendent’s office as well. He continued to serve in both capacities until his retirement in 1999.
But even then, Mr. Jensen’s work at District 96 was not finished. He was hired on as a consultant for three years after his retirement to continue his work supervising building repairs at the district’s schools.
“Whatever he did, he did well,” said Bonnette. “As superintendent, the two of us really had a great working relationship. He was a great guy, and it’s unfortunate he wasn’t able to enjoy his retirement for a longer time.”
Mr. Jensen was born in Chicago on May 23, 1944, and moved to Naperville in 1971, shortly after being hired in District 96.
He is survived by his wife, Adele Jensen of Naperville, his sons, Scott (Andrea Poe) Jensen, and Mark Jensen; his daughter, Elizabeth (Kyle) Jump; his granddaughter, Rigley Jump; his brother, Peter (Ruth) Jensen; his sisters, Barbara (Roland) Sargent and Beverly (Ed) Wargo; his brother-in-law, Gary (Kathy) Lorenz; his sister-in-law, Linda Lorenz; and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral service was held April 16 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Naperville, followed by interment in Forest Home Cemetery in Forest Park. Memorial contributions were appreciated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 651 W. Washington Blvd., Chicago, Ill. 60661.
Arrangements were handled by Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home, Naperville.
Larry Vlastnik, 80, former North Riverside policeman
Larry Vlastnik, a longtime North Riverside resident who served as a police officer and was active in many local organizations, died April 13, 2005 at Blessings Hospital in downstate Quincy. A resident of Rochelle, Ill. at the time of his death, he was 80 years old.
Mr. Vlastnik served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and was a lifetime member of VFW Post #6869, where he was also a past commander. After leaving the service, he served as a North Riverside police officer and also worked as an electrical engineer for Amoco.
He was involved in local politics, serving as past president of the Riverside Township Republican Organization, North Riverside precinct captain and North Riverside Civil Service commissioner.
Mr. Vlastnik was also active at Mater Christi Church, where he was a member of the Holy Name Society. He also served as an usher and lay minister at Mater Christi and at St. Patrick Church.
Mr. Vlastnik was preceded in death by his wife, Clara (nee Vesely). He is survived by his son, Mark (Annmarie); his daughter, Barbara (Timothy) Leahey; his brother, Richard (the late Clara); and his grandchildren, Kathryn Leahey, Mitchell Leahey, Curtis Vlastnik and Courtney Vlastnik.
A funeral Mass was celebrated on April 17 at Mater Christi Church in North Riverside, followed by entombment in Queen of Heaven Mausoleum in Hillside.
Memorial donations were appreciated to the American Cancer Society or the Blessings Hospice, P.O. Box 7005, Quincy, Ill. 62305.
Kuratko Funeral Directors, North Riverside, handled arrangements.
