Obituaries
 
October 29, 2014
 
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Eberhard Block

Eberhard Block, age 81, lifelong resident of Lombard, died Monday, Oct. 27. Graveside services will be held at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, Ill.
Arrangements were made by Brust Funeral Home, 135 S. Main St., Lombard. Info: 888-629-0094 or www.brustfuneralhome.com.

Stella M. Gasiciel

Stella M. Gasiciel, nee Bernas, age 97, of Villa Park for 56 years, died Sunday, Oct. 26, in Villa Park.
Visitation is today, Oct. 29, from 2-9 p.m. at Brust Funeral Home, 135 S. Main St., Lombard. Funeral services are Thursday, Oct. 30, with prayers at 9:15 a.m. from Brust Funeral Home to St. John the Apostle Church, Villa Park, for 10 a.m. Mass. Interment is at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside.
Info: 888-629-0094 or www.brustfuneralhome.com.

James Craig Masters

James Craig Masters, age 57, of Lombard, passed away on Oct. 22, 2014 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
Jim was kind and hard-working, dedicated to his family and friends. He would regularly lend a helping hand to those in need. Jim was also known for his wonderful sense of humor, and quick wit. He was a gifted pattern-maker, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. Later in life these skills would be applied to his job developing and building custom cabinets. Jim was actively involved with the local Boy Scout Troop #51 along with his son Kevin, and served for several years as the assistant scoutmaster.
Among his many talents, Jim loved restoring old things. Earlier in his life it was classic muscle-cars, and later that passion would be applied to finding and restoring used bicycles, especially old Schwinns. He also enjoyed riding bicycles and often participated in the "L.A.T.E. Ride" each year through downtown Chicago. Jim had a lifelong interest for all things astrological, and enjoyed both searching the skies and photographing them.
Beloved husband of Norma, nee Suto; Loving father of Kevin Masters; Beloved son of Patricia and the late William Masters; Proud grandfather of Jackson James Masters; Dear brother of Gary Masters and Vicki (David) Johnson; Fond uncle of many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Monday, Oct. 27, at Christ Church of Oak Brook, Oak Brook.
Arrangements were made by DuPage Cremations, Ltd. and Memorial Chapel.

David Palmer

David Palmer, age 49, suddenly, a lifelong resident of Lombard, died Oct. 25 at Good Samaritan Hospital.
Visitation will be today from 3-9 p.m. at Brust Funeral Home, 135 S. Main St., Lombard. Funeral service will be Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at Brust Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Chapel Hill Gardens West in Oakbrook Terrace.
David is survived by his mother, Carolyn Palmer, nee Koop, of Lombard; his siblings, James T. “Jimmy” (Liz) of Lombard, Suzanne (George) Spatz and Julie (Joseph Jr.) Glazier of Lombard; his niece and nephew, Rachel and Mark Spatz; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Also survived by many friends. David was preceded in death by his father, James “Jim” Palmer.
David attended Green Valley Grade School, Lombard Junior High, and graduated from Glenbard East High School in 1982. He was the owner of Palmer Tech in Lombard. David was a member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. He volunteered for many community activities in Lombard. David was always helping others. He had a passion for snowmobiling and was a NASCAR fan.
His heart was big, his voice was loud, and his faith was strong.
Memorials to Northern Illinois Food Bank, 273 Dearborn Court, Geneva, IL 60134; or St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 215 S. Lincoln St., Lombard, IL 60148, appreciated.
For more info 888-629-0094.

Wendy L. Schroeder

Wendy L. Schroeder, nee Ristau, of Lombard, born May 29, 1949, at peace Oct. 25, 2014. Services will be private.
Wendy was a cherished bus driver and special education aide. She was an avid gardener; and liked to travel, hike in the woods, watch movies and especially spend time with her grandsons. She was a descendent of Deacon Winslow Churchill. Wendy was a proud member of the Lombard Garden Club, the DAR and First Church of Christ, Scientist.
Wendy was the beloved wife of Bill Schroeder; loving mother of Dave Curtis and Cindy (Todd) Wittenberg; dear daughter of Bill and the late Winnie Ristau; proud grandmother of Casey and Tyler Curtis (mother, Kristy Curtis), Brannon, Paul and Daniel Wittenberg; caring sister of Bill (Nancy), Bruce, Mark (Aurora), Dave and Virginia Ristau; and fond aunt of many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Donations can be made in her name to the Glen Ellyn Historical Society (www.glenellynhistory.org, 630-469-1867), the Lombard Garden Club (www.lombardgardenclub.org) or First Church of Christ, Scientist (www.gentlepresence.org, 630-469-4988).
Arrangements were made by DuPage Cremations, Ltd. and Memorial Chapel; 630-293-5200.

Edward J. Smith

Edward J. Smith, 81, of Glen Ellyn, died Tuesday, Oct. 21, in Glen Ellyn.
A private memorial service will be held later.
Arrangements were made by Brust Funeral Home, 135 S. Main St., Lombard. For more information, call 630-629-0094 or visit www.brustfuneralhome.com.

Sharon Vihnanek

Sharon J. Vihnanek, of Lombard, died Friday, Oct. 24. She was 73.
Born Oct. 10, 1941, in Chicago, Sharon was the only child of Edwin and Harriet Lippert.
She had a full plate of friendships wherever she went, ranging from the “grandneighbors” on her street to her Pool Pals at the Lombard pool to her last “audience,” the Northwestern Memorial Hospital Medical Intensive Care Unit staff.
Sharon could not wait for her daughters to produce grandchildren and, when they did, she adored them enormously and spoiled them whenever their parents weren’t looking (and sometimes when they were). Her grandchildren thought she was hilarious and welcomed her goofy greeting cards, which often contained a little “fun money” and a “shhhhhhh” to keep it quiet. She was a loyal Ram for her grandsons Jack and Sam, despite having raised two daughters who carried the Warrior flag. She loved to hear about the grandkids’ experiences as they grew up and started to make their mark on a world—a mark she believed would be as indelible as they one they’d already made on her heart.
Life became tough after her first husband and daughters’ father died suddenly, leaving her to raise her daughters alone. She went back to work full-time, provided for her daughters and made some new friends. One of those friends was Brian Vihnanek, a colleague at Northern Illinois Gas with twinkling blue eyes and an endless repertoire of jokes. He’d prove to be her second chance at happiness when they eloped to Hawaii in 1987, surprising no one who knew them. They had 27 years of traveling, Friday night pizza dates at Aurelio’s and a regular push and pull over whether there should be more flowers or vegetables in their garden. (Her flowers won.) They enjoyed immensely their early retirement and the many friendships they were able to cultivate along the way.
Sharon took her iPad seriously, getting on Facebook and reconnecting with friends from her Steinmetz High School days as well as the new ones she was ever collecting.
She loved candy, worried too much and never thought twice about another pair of shoes. Her dog, Nudge, provided entertainment that always made her smile, even as she complained about the price of the designer dog biscuits he earned.
The children on her street—her “grandneighbors”—kept her young and provided her with much company over the years. She loved to plot surprises for their birthdays and special events, sneaking into their front yards at night to decorate a tree to commemorate their big moments.
Redecorating was a major pastime, maybe even a sport, as Sharon regularly changed decor in her home. Her love of craft shows helped along this passion and helped provide new additions to all her holiday decorations. She aggressively decorated for Christmas in particular, with the tree going up no later than the day after Thanksgiving. There was not a holiday for which she didn’t have appropriate and abundant decor, except maybe Casimir Pulaski Day. Had she been Polish, this would have been remedied. Craft shows also provided her wardrobe of bedazzled sweatshirts, many of which flaunted her grandparent status.
Before her recent illness, Sharon had survived breast cancer and recently noted she’d already lived, even at her young age, longer than any female in her family.
Her family and friends will miss her attitude, generosity and ability to remember everything—literally—that ever happened in our lives.
Sharon is survived by her beloved husband, Brian Vihnanek; daughters, Lori (Bob) Sarocka of Lombard and Kimberly Lenz (Matt Poelker) of Yorktown, Va.; grandchildren, Jack and Sam Sarocka and Zack, Geneva and Max Poelker; and her canine son, Nudge Rosebud. She was preceded in death by her first husband and daughters’ father, Norman P. Lenz; as well as her parents.
A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 1025 E. Madison St., Lombard. A memorial service and inurnment will be scheduled for a later date.
While Sharon loved flowers, those inclined to send them are encouraged to remember her instead with an act of kindness toward someone who may not expect it, a contribution to their favorite charity or to the American Heart Association, or both.
Special thanks go to her neighbors who helped keep her spirits high (and knowledge current); the amazing and compassionate care she received from Dr. Michael Cuttica, his nurse David and everyone else at the Northwestern Pulmonary team; and the good-humored nurses, respiratory therapists and physician team at the Northwestern Medical Intensive Care Unit.