Mary Jo Arndt

Mary Jo Arndt, nee Larsen, age 78, of Lombard for 62 years, died Sept. 24 at Good Samaritan Hospital, Downers Grove.
Visitation will be held Monday, Oct. 3, from 2-8 p.m. at the Maple Street Chapel, corner of Main and Maple streets, Lombard.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Oct. 4, at 11:30 a.m. at the First Church of Lombard, Main Street Sanctuary, 220 S. Main St., Lombard. Interment is private at Chapel Hill Gardens West Cemetery.
Mrs. Arndt is survived by her husband, Dr. Paul W., DVM; daughters, Dr. Kristi L. Arndt, Ph.D., DVM of Lombard, Kerri A. (Russell) Roselli of Rolling Meadows, and Dr. Georgianne, DVM (Gregory) Ludwig of Lombard; grandchildren, Gregory R. Ludwig of Lombard, Phillip P. Roselli of Rolling Meadows, Graceanne N. Ludwig of Lombard, and Kaleigh A. Roselli of Rolling Meadows; cousin, Betty Bussema of Arizona; and many other relatives, many friends and many pets.
Mrs. Arndt, a 1951 graduate of Glenbard West High School, was a graduate of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb with a B.S. in Education. She was a former teacher, having taught fourth and fifth grades in Villa Park and Urbana. She had been a newspaper columnist and was the managing partner and hospital administrator of the Lombard Veterinary Hospital with her husband, Dr. Paul. They established the Lombard Veterinary Hospital in 1959 and it is one of the largest single-family-owned small animal medical centers in Illinois.
Lombard Village President William J. Mueller proclaimed Sept. 24, 2010, as “Mary Jo Arndt Day” in the Village of Lombard in honor of her many years of dedicated service and contributions to the community including being an integral part of the York Township Republican Women’s Organization for 45 years and serving as a former Republican national committeewoman for Illinois; serving as past president of the National Federation of Republican Women and a pioneer in efforts to increase opportunities for women in politics, government and education.
In addition, she founded the Illinois Republican Women’s Roundtable in 1989, established the Illinois Lincoln Excellence in Public Service Series, conducted many seminars on various facets of political organization and party structure, and lent her skills to campaign efforts in almost every county in Illinois.
Mrs. Arndt served as publicity chairperson for the Lombard Minutemen, a group that raised $40,000 to build a log cabin at Four Seasons Park as part of Lombard’s Bicentennial; was a Girl Scout leader, executive secretary for the Lombard Lilac Parade Committee, a Rotary Ann; and she was actively involved with the Maple Street Chapel Preservation Society, the YWCA and the Lombard Chamber of Commerce.
President Ronald Reagan appointed Mrs. Arndt to be a member of the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships and she was reappointed by President Bush. She served as a member of the Republican National Committee for Illinois from 1988 to 2008 and was elected to the RNC Executive Committee representing the Midwestern Region from 2005-08. She was the chairman of the Illinois Women for McCain campaign and was a member of the McCain National Hispanic Outreach Team.
She recently completed six years on the board of directors of American Women for International Understanding and was a member and adviser of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Illinois. She was a member of the Xilin Asian Association Board of Directors.
Mrs. Arndt was twice elected by the primary voters of the 6th Congressional District as their state central committeeman, both in 1982 and 1986. In 2008, she was elected vice chair emeritus of the Illinois Republican State Committee.
A pioneer in efforts to increase opportunities for women in politics, government and education, she actively worked to expand the party’s base by bringing a diverse group of women into the political system. As a member of the Illinois Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women, Mrs. Arndt served on the Working Group on Balancing Work and Family, represented President Bush as an observer of the Romanian elections in May of 1990; and her government service also included a U.S. Senate- confirmed appointment to the National Advisory Council on Women’s Education Programs during the Reagan Administration, where she served as chairman of the Women’s Educational Equity Act Committee and membership on the Advisory Committee to the Illinois State Superintendent of Schools.
She also served, by appointment of the governor, on the Illinois Commission for the Celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment. Today’s Chicago Woman twice named Mrs. Arndt a “Power Personality”—a woman making a difference in Chicagoland’s business and social environment. She served as a member of the U.S. Small Business Administration National Advisory Council from 2001-07 and was selected by the Foundation for Women’s Resources as one of 100 women to participate in Leadership America.
Mrs. Arndt was a member of the National Board of Directors of Leadership America from 2001-06, and was a member of the Advisory Board of Leadership Illinois and Save the Patient. The Gallup Organization selected her as a “Visionary Leader for the 21st Century” and awarded her a full scholarship to the Gallup Leadership Institute.
Due to her great love of the Maple Street Chapel in Lombard, the family requests no flowers. Memorials to the Maple Street Chapel, 220 S. Main St., Lombard, IL 60148, for its upkeep, would be appreciated.
Arrangements were made by Brust Funeral Home, 135 S. Main St., Lombard. Call 630-629-0094 or visit www.brustfuneralhome.com for more information.

Elaine Illian

Funeral services and interment for Elaine M. Illian, of Villa Park, were held Monday, Sept. 26, at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood.
Mrs. Illian is survived by her children, Janine (Glen) Wolf and Nicole (Mike) Bellock; four grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard.
Arrangements were made by Steuerle Funeral Home, 350 S. Ardmore Ave., Villa Park.

Jerry Inglis

Jerry K. Inglis, 70, of Glen Ellyn, died Sunday, Sept. 25, in Glen Ellyn.
Mr. Inglis is survived by his mother, Myrtle. He was preceded in death by his father, John Sr.; and brothers, John Jr. and David.
Mr. Inglis was a 1958 graduate of Glenbard High School, enjoyed golf and was an avid movie fan. He was a thoughtful and devoted son.
Arrangements were made by Brust Funeral Home, 135 S. Main St., Lombard. Call 630-629-0094 or visit www.brustfuneralhome.com for more information.

Barbara Moritz

Barbara J. Moritz, 84, of Montgomery, formerly of Lombard, died Wednesday, Sept. 21, at Rush-Copley Hospital in Aurora.
A memorial gathering was held Sunday, Sept. 25, at Brust Funeral Home, 135 S. Main St., Lombard. Interment was private.
Mrs. Moritz is survived by her husband of 64 years, Edward H.; children, Susan (Frank) Matranga, Nancy (Ron) Iaccino and Edward J. (Linda); and three grandchildren.
Mrs. Moritz was a resident of Lombard from 1967-99. She enjoyed playing bridge with her friends, crossword puzzles and writing letters; and was devoted to her family. She kept in touch with them every day.
Call 630-629-0094 or visit www.brustfuneralhome.com for more information.

Ralph Weiler

Ralph Weiler, 83, of Lombard, died Saturday, Sept. 24, at Good Samaritan Hospital.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Sept. 27, at Brust Funeral Home, 135 S. Main St., Lombard. Interment was private.
Mr. Weiler is survived by his wife, Joan I.; children, Michael L. (Diane) Larson, Steven Larson, Tod Larson and Scott Larson of Lombard; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; sisters, Freda Anderson and Joyce Mardarosian; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his grandson, Keith; siblings, Eva, Clyde, Wayne and Esther Fetterman; brothers-in-law, Mayo Anderson, Jack Mardarosian and Clifford Fetterman; and sister-in-law, Ruth.
Mr. Weiler had been a resident of Lombard since1979. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and had attended the senior exercise class at the Lombard Community Building.
Please omit flowers. Donations to Edgar Cayce’s A.R.E. Association for Research and Enlightenment, 215 67th St., Virginia Beach, VA 23451, would be appreciated.
Call 630-629-0094 or visit www.brustfuneralhome.com for more information.