Stephen R. Hyzny, 78, a longtime resident of Brookfield, died Oct. 6, 2011 at The British Home following a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Mr. Hyzny, a loyal Republican, was active in Brookfield politics as a member of the PEP Party and as an appointed official. Mr. Hyzny moved into a home on the north end of the village in 1973 and became an auxiliary police officer three years later.

Mr. Hyzny would remain an auxiliary police officer until 1986. He was also a member of the St. Louise de Marillac School board and a member of the parish’s Men’s Club.

As a PEP Party member, Mr. Hyzny served as a precinct captain and was later appointed a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals. In 2006, Mr. Hyzny was appointed to the Brookfield-North Riverside Water Commission.

“He took those positions every seriously and was always interested in doing the right things for the board and commission,” said Judge Richard Billik Jr., whose parents were close friends with Mr. Hyzny and his family. “He was very conscientious about his responsibilities as a board member.”

Mr. Hyzny was born on July 12, 1933 to Bart and Julia Hyzny and grew up in the Gage Park neighborhood in Chicago. He attended St. Simon School and Gage Park High School. For 30 years he worked as a printer for the Chicago Carton Company.

Although he was diagnosed with cancer six months ago, Mr. Hyzny stayed active. According to his daughter, Kris Rusing, Mr. Hyzny kept up his daily habit of getting his morning coffee at McDonald’s until two weeks ago. After two weeks at Loyola University Medical Center, he decided to leave for the British Home.

“He had a take-charge attitude,” said Rusing, “which is the way he passed.”

Mr Hyzny is survived by his children, Stephen R. Hyzny Jr. and Kris M. (Kimo) Rusing; his grandchildren, Joseph Baneck and Jacob Swanson; his brothers, Victor (Irene) Hyzny and Michael (Lynn) Hyzny; and many nieces and nephews, including Brittany, Taylor, Lisa and Nicole Kubik. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Deborah Swanson.

Visitation will be on Thursday, Oct. 13 and on Friday, Oct. 14 from 3 to 8 p.m. at Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St. in Brookfield. There will also be a brief visitation from 10:30 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15, with a funeral service at the funeral home beginning at 11 a.m. Interment will be at Resurrection Cemetery in Justice.