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Chester J. Zaleski
Distinguished Flying Cross recipient
Chester (Chet/Red) J. Zaleski was born in Chicago on June 24, 1922, the second of two children.
Chet attended Calvin Tech for his first two years and then transferred to Lane Tech where he played football, basketball, and baseball.
While in his senior year of high school, Chet entered the Chicago Park District's Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament where he made it to the finals of the 137-lb. weight division.
After graduation from high school, Chet enlisted in the 8th Air Force with the hopes of becoming a pilot. But at that time, the Air Force had enough pilots and Chet was told he would be trained as a bombardier. After training, Chet was sent to England and eventually flew in 32 missions in B24s in World War II as part of the 467th Bombardment Group stationed in Rackheath, England. One of Chet's missions was as one of the lead planes during the D-Day invasion.
For his actions and heroism during the war, Chet received the highest award the Air Force gives, the Distinguished Flying Cross. One war story occurred years after the war had ended. One day in the '70's, Chet struck up a conversation with a new neighbor who had just moved into Northshire in Des Plaines. The new neighbor, Max, had a strong German accent, and on this summer day, Chet and Max started talking while they were doing yard work. Chet asked Max whether Max had served in the German military during World War II. Max said no but he had worked in a small German town in a munitions factory and he had also manned an anti-aircraft cannon in the town square. The town was so small that it had only came under attack one night during the entire war by one Allied airplane. Chet asked Max for the name of the town and when Max told him, Chet said "Oh my God, that was my airplane that dropped its bombs on your town that night." Apparently, Chet's plane had taken fire earlier that night and was damaged and the plane was forced to drop its bombs on a non-military target to make it back to its base. It had bothered Chet greatly that he had dropped bombs on that town that night. After this revelation, Max and Chet looked at each other in silence for a long time reflecting on the irony of war - here were next door neighbors who 30 years earlier had been trying to kill each other.
After he was discharged from the military, one night in 1945 Chet went to a dance hall and met the woman who he would marry in 1947, Dee. Nine months later, Randy was born. In 1953, Chet, Dee, and Randy, moved to Northshire in Des Plaines and in 1954, their second son, Craig was born. Chet eventually took a job with Harris Bank and rose to the position of lead Savings and Loan banker for Harris where he worked until his retirement in 1984.
Chet took great pleasure in being with family and friends. He was very supportive of his family and took pride in all the family accomplishments. Chet coached his sons in baseball for years and could always be found playing catch with them during summers. Dee was able to travel with Chet to banking conferences and whenever they could, brought their sons, Randy and Craig with them. As his sons grew into adulthood and eventually married
, Chet had great pleasure in watching the grandsons and granddaughters grow up.
Ann Elizabeth Behrens
Of Rolling Meadows
Ann Elizabeth Behrens, 99, formerly of Rolling Meadows, passed away on Tuesday, June 15 at the Maury Regional Medical Center in Columbia, TN.
Funeral services were held on Friday, June 25 at Glueckert Funeral Home, Ltd. in Arlington Hts.
She was born on May 1, 1911 in Milwaukee, WI. She is survived by her children, Frederick (Patricia), and Larry (Marcia); her grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and her brother, Anthony Mesner.
Estelle Bertell
Of Arlington Hts.
A funeral Mass for Estelle Bertell, 98, was celebrated Monday, June 21 at St. John’s Chapel. Interment was at St. Adalbert cemetery in Niles. Visitation preceded the Mass at the Lutheran Home in Arlington Hts.
Mrs. Bertell was born on May 1, 1912 in Lublin, Poland. She died on June 15, 2010 at the Lutheran Home.
Her husband, Louis V. Bertell preceded her in death.
Her daughter Diane F. (Martin W.) Hamilton survives her.
Glueckert Funeral Home in Arlington Hts. made funeral arrangements.
Esther Regina Bruchert
Of Niles
Esther Regina Bruchert, 95, of Niles, passed away on Tuesday, June 22 at Rainbow Hospice Ark in Park Ridge. She was born on Dec. 30, 1914 in Chicago.
Funeral services were held on June 24 at Skaja Terrace Funeral Home in Niles.
Survivors include her three sons, James (Donna), Bill (Nancy), Jack, and 11 great-grandchildren.
Shannon B. Buyle
Of Schaumburg
A funeral service for Shannon B. Buyle, 32, of Schaumburg, was held June 20 in G.L. Hills Funeral Home, Des Plaines. Interment was private.
Born Nov. 16, 1977, in Skokie, she died June 13 in Elk Grove Village. She was employed by a Suzuki auto dealership as a parts manager.
Surviving are her parents, Thresa Buyle of Des Plaines and Jeffrey Buyle of Lake Zurich, and sister Tracey.
David T. Cochrane
Of Niles
David T. Cochrane, 80, formerly of Niles, passed away on Tuesday, June 22 in Park Ridge. He was born on Mar. 3, 1930.
Funeral services were held on Friday, June 25 at Lauterburg and Oehler Funeral Home in Arlington Hts. Interment was at Ridgewood cemetery in Des Plaines.
He is survived by his children, Don (Linda), David (Susan), and Robert (Carmen) and his grandchildren.
Jill M. Dempkowski
Of Wheeling
Jill M. Dempkowski, 54, passed away on Wednesday, June 16 in Park Ridge. Funeral services were held on Saturday, June 26 at G.L. Hills Funeral Home in Des Plaines.
She was born on June 6, 1956. She is survived by her mother, Gloria; siblings, Denise (Dillard) Baker, Michael and Keith Giesel, Chelle (JB) Shultis and Tori Giesel; and nieces and nephew.
Shirley Elizabeth Gotzmer
Jan. 6, 1930 – June 25, 2010
Shirley Elizabeth Gotzmer, 80 of Vacaville, CA, passed away peacefully on the morning of June 25, 2010. Shirley suffered through chemo and surprised everyone hitting unexpected milestones. Shirley was born in Chicago, Ill. on Jan. 6, 1930 to Carter and Margaret Rehoff. The family moved to Des Plaines, Ill. when Shirley was a young child.
She obtained a degree at Carthage College in Illinois in music and a second degree at Ohlone College in Fremont, CA in Sociology while she was in her forties. As a side job, she taught piano for over 50 years. She retired from the City of Concord and from the County of Contra Costa where she was a buyer. Shirley enjoyed music, dancing, travel, meeting people, boating, water ballet, theatre and her family. She was a loyal member of Sons of Norway. Shirley leaves her 4 children: Tamara, Michele, Robert and Lynnette; 8 grandchildren: Juliette, Kimber, Erica, Desiree, Christina, Ethan, Jeremy and Bryson. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bruno Gotzmer and sister and brother-in-lawn Laverne and Wally Behm.
A Celebration of Life will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at Vaca Hills Chapel, 524 Elmira Road in Vacaville, Pastor Mark Wright will officiate. Prior to the service a viewing will begin at 9 a.m. Arrangements by Vaca Hills Chapel Funeral Home, 707-446-3233.
Kenneth B. Grandt
Disabled Fireman
A funeral mass for Kenneth Gabriel Grandt, 69, a disabled former firefighter and paramedic for the Wheeling Fire Department, was celebrated June 22 in St. Mary Catholic Church, Buffalo Grove. Interment followed in St. Mary cemetery.
Arrangements were by Kolssak Funeral Home, Wheeling. He was born April 23, 1941, and died June 19.
Surviving are his widow, Sharon (nee Rustman); children Shannon (James) Stephens, Michael (Rose), Derek (Karen), Troy (Margaret), and Victor (Elizabeth); step-children Gene Maybach, Deborah (Todd) Wilson, and Jodie (Joe) Bosco; grandchildren Josh, Adam, Leah, Scott, Bailey, Emily, and Isabella; and “best buddy” Auggie.
Brandon M. Heller
Of Mt. Prospect
Brandon M. Heller, 31, formerly of Mt. Prospect, passed away on Sunday, June 13 at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village. He was born May 14, 1979.
Mass was celebrated at St. James Church in Arlington Hts. on June 18. Interment was at All Saints cemetery in Des Plaines.
Heller is survived by his parents, Thomas and Lynne Heller; his sister, Bobbi (Scott) Fitzgerald; grandparents, George and Anne Olson; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Marion E. Murphy
Of Palatine
Marion E. Murphy, 97, formerly of Palatine, passed away on Saturday, June 12. She was born in 1913 in Telluride, CO.
Funeral services were held at First United Methodist Church in Palatine on June 26.
Mrs. Murphy was an antique dealer at Collage Antiques in Arlington Hts. and a member of the Finessers Bridge Club and Palatine Book Review.
She is survived by her daughter, Susan (Chuck) Yerkes; and her grandchildren, Colleen and Drew Yerkes.
Fred C. Plambeck
Formerly of Niles
A funeral mass for Fred C. Plambeck, 74, a former Niles resident, was celebrated June 19 in St. John Brebeuf Church. Interment was in Maryhill cemetery, Niles.
He was born June 22, 1935, and lived in Schaumburg recently. He died June 16 in Alexian Brothers Medical Center.
Arrangements were by Skaja Terrace Funeral Home. He worked as a CTA bus driver and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Surviving are his widow, Virginia (nee Wiese); children Deborah (Robert) Maisel and David; stepdaughter Dawn Leopold and stepson John (Cathy) Wiese; and grandchildren Brian and Kevin Maisel.
Phyllis S. Russo
Of Niles
Phyllis S. Russo, 93, formerly of Niles, passed away on Tuesday, June 22 at Bethany Terrace Nursing Home in Morton Grove. She was born Apr. 16, 1917 in Chicago.
Funeral services were held at Skaja Terrace Funeral Home in Niles on June 25. Interment was at St. Adalbert cemetery in Niles.
Survivors include her sons, Thomas (Marilyn) and James (Janice); four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
