Charles F. Pfau Sr., 83, Twice wounded in World War II
Charles F. Pfau Sr., a North Riverside resident for 60 years, died April 8, 2006 at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood at the age of 83.
Raised in Berwyn, Mr. Pfau attended St. Leonard School in that city and St. Patrick High School in Chicago, where he was named all-city in both football and basketball. Upon graduating from high school, Mr. Pfau enrolled in Morton Junior College in Cicero, where he also played football.
While in junior college, Pfau was drafted into the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 34th Infantry Division, nicknamed the “Red Bulls.” The division was the first to enter combat in the European Theater. The 34th Division logged over 600 days of combat, the most of any U.S. Army division during the war, seeing action in North Africa and Italy, including the bloody battle of Monte Cassino.
Mr. Pfau was wounded in battle during his time with the 34th Division and received two Purple Hearts in addition to a Combat Infantryman’s Badge.
In 1945 he met his future wife, fellow Berwyn resident Elizabeth Rock, at a St. Valentine’s Dance. The couple married in 1946 and moved to North Riverside, living in the same home for the next 60 years.
A member of the Typographer’s Union, Mr. Pfau was a Lineotype operator, first at the Suburban Life and the for the Chicago Tribune. In the early 1980s, he retired and earned his certification as a pharmacy technician, working for his son, Charles Jr., at the Medicine Shoppe pharmacy in southwest suburban Lockport for the next 20 years.
Mr. Pfau is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Pfau of North Riverside; his sons, Charles (Lynn) Pfau Jr. and Gregory (Ann) Parker; his daughter Dawn (Richard) Pearson; his brother, Francis “Packie” Pfau; his sisters, Lucille (the late Jack) Meyer, Gerry (Van) Virva and Patricia Pfau; nine grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Holly (George) O’Hare, a former teacher at Central School in Riverside.
A funeral Mass was celebrated April 12 at Mater Christi Church in North Riverside, followed by interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside. Memorial contributions were appreciated to the American Cancer Society.
Kuratko Funeral Home, North Riverside, handled arrangements.
Ludmilla M. Buzecky, 90, Was waitress at Marshall Field’s
Ludmilla M. “Millie” Buzecky, 90, a Brookfield resident since 1969, died April 11, 2006 at her home.
For 30 years, beginning in 1951, Buzecky was a waitress at the Marshall Field’s in downtown Chicago. In addition, she was active at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brookfield as a member of the Ladies Guild.
She was married to George Buzecky, who preceded her in death in 1960, and by her son, Ronald (Barbara) Buzecky.
She is survived by her son, Richard (Joan) Buzecky; her sisters, Violet Buzecky, Alma Sandefur and Adeline Orrico; two grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
A funeral service was held April 13 at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, followed by interment at St. Lucas Cemetery in Chicago.
Memorial contributions were appreciated to St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, 9035 Grant Ave., Brookfield, Ill. 60513.
Johnson Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements.
Lillian Chappatta, 85, Brookfield homemaker
Lillian Chappatta (nee Pytlewicz), 85, a Brookfield homemaker, died at home on April 8, 2006, a day before her 86th birthday.
Born in Chicago on April 9, 1920 to Rose and John Pytlewicz, she married Melvin C. Chappatta and raised three children. Mr. Chappatta preceded his wife in death on March 28.
She is survived by her sons, Glenn C. Chappatta and Ken (Donna) Chappatta; her daughter, Nancy (Arthur) Kastl; her grandchildren, Artie Kastl, Kristie Kastl, Brian Chappatta and David Chappatta; her sister, Eleanor Harrigan; and her dear friend and caregiver, Stella.
A funeral Mass was celebrated on April 12 at St. Louise de Marillac Church in LaGrange Park, followed by entombment at Queen of Heaven Mausoleum in Hillside.
Hitzeman Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements.
Helen J. Kasper, 83, Allied Co. retiree
Helen J. Kasper, 83, who lived in Brookfield for over 40 years, died April 6, 2006 at LaGrange Memorial Hospital.
Ms. Kasper was married to Milo Kasper, who preceded his wife in death in 1971. After his death, she worked as an assembler for the Allied Co. in Chicago.
She is survived by her sons, Leonard Kasper and Gary Kasper, eight grandchildren and one great grandchild. A private funeral service was followed by interment at Woodlawn Cemetery in Forest Park.
Johnson Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements.
William S. Komaniecki, 84, Retired Crown Stove employee
Brookfield resident William S. Komaniecki, a former resident of North Riverside, died April 10, 2006 at the British Home in Brookfield. He was 84 years old.
A U.S. Army veteran during World War II, Mr. Komaniecki later worked for the Crown Stove company in Chicago as a repairman prior to his retirement.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Agnes, and his son Ronald. Mr. Komaniecki is survived by his daughter, Mary (Anthony) Matas, and his grandchildren, Cary (Jonathan) Burke, Matthew Komaniecki, Nicole Matas and Jaime Matas.
A funeral service was held April 13 at Kuratko Funeral Home in North Riverside, followed by interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.
George Musil, 93, Retired machinist
North Riverside resident George Musil, 93, died April 10, 2006 at the Rosewood Care Center in St. Charles.
Mr. Musil worked as a machinist for the Danley Machine Co. in Cicero prior to his retirement, and was married for over 60 years to his wife, Bernice, who preceded her husband in death.
He is survived by his daughter, Francine Musil-Kolzow; his grandson, David (Kathy) Kolzow; and his great granddaughter, Lindsey Kolzow.
A funeral service was held April 11 at Kuratko Funeral Home in North Riverside, followed by interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.
Margaret Panzer, 90, Former North Riverside resident
Margaret Panzer, 90, a resident of Geneva and former resident of North Riverside, died April 9, 2006 at the Geneva Care Center.
A homemaker who raised four sons, Ms. Panzer was also active at Ascension Lutheran Church in Riverside as a member of the church’s Women’s Guild. She was also a member of the Chicago Caged Bird Club.
Preceded in death by her husband, Erwin, she is survived by her sons, Erwin (Charlene) Panzer, Neal (Carole) Panzer, Mark (Cathy) Panzer and Bruce (fiancee Anne Barry) Panzer; her sister, Marie (Gus) Lienhardt; eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
A funeral service was held April 13 at Ascension Lutheran Church, followed by interment at Forest Home Cemetery in Forest Park.
Memorial contributions were appreciated to Ascension Lutheran Church, 400 Nuttall Road, Riverside, Ill. 60546.
Kuratko Funeral Home, North Riverside, handled arrangements.