The Honorable Judge Kurt Peter Klein, 72, Sycamore, Illinois passed away Friday, January 15, 2016, in Arizona with his beloved wife, Linda by his side.
Kurt was born September 30, 1943, to Edmund and Rose (Ortman) Klein. He served in the United States Army and was stationed in Japan. He graduated from the University of Illinois-Chicago and DePaul University Law School. He began his legal career as an Assistant for the Cook County States Attorney's Office. He moved to DeKalb County in 1977 where he became a contributing member of the DeKalb County community. He served as the First Assistant in the DeKalb County State's Attorney's Office. He was a founding member of the Gallagher, Klein and Brady law firm. He was an attorney for 43 years and served as a Judge in the 16th Judicial Circuit for the last 17 years of his career, 11 years as Presiding Judge of DeKalb County. During his time as judge he was an integral part of the historical preservation and recent courthouse expansion as well as being a leading force in creating the 23rd judicial circuit, DeKalb and Kendall Counties. He also established the first Juvenile Safe House for at risk youth.
Obituaries
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February 3, 2016 |
People
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January 21, 2016 |
People
Charles L. "Charlie" Palmer, 84, of Savoy passed away at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana on Wednesday morning (Jan. 13, 2016) with his family by his side.
Charlie was born on May 18, 1931, to Walter and Gertrude June (McKinley) Palmer in Champaign. He was married to Barbara Palmer from 1957 to 1974. He married Roberta "Bobbie" Palmer on June 9, 1975, in Champaign.
Charlie, a 1957 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law, practiced in Champaign County for 53 years. The majority of his career was in private practice at Franklin, Flynn & Palmer (now Flynn, Palmer, Tague & Jacobson). Previously he served as assistant state's attorney and assistant city attorney for Champaign as well as interim public defender for Champaign County and outside counsel for the University of Illinois.
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January 14, 2016 |
People
Attorney Roger Pascal, a litigator who spent 50 years with the firm of Schiff Hardin in Chicago, also did pro bono work for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, where his legal skills served some of the state's most disadvantaged citizens.
"Roger was a passionate, passionate advocate, particularly for people who couldn't afford a champion or didn't have one," said Thomas Quinn, who succeeded Pascal as the Schiff Hardin practice group leader for litigation in Chicago.
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January 13, 2016 |
People
Robert T. Guilfoyle 79, born in Chicago on March 23, 1936; Bob was a Navy Veteran, and a graduate of DePaul School of Law. He retired from Allstate Insurance Company after working many years as an attorney. He passed away after a short illness on the night of December 27, 2015. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Jacqueline nee Gaudin. He is survived by his cousins Michael (Mary) Guilfoyle and Gregory Kelly, and his niece Margaret Gaudin. Visitation Tuesday, January 5th from 4:00 pm to 9:00pm at the Oehler Funeral Home, 2099 Miner St. (Northwest Highway/Route 14 at Rand Road), Des Plaines where prayers will be held Wednesday 9:15 am prior to 10:00 am Mass at St. Emily Catholic Church, 1400 E. Central Rd., Mt. Prospect. Interment All Saints Cemetery, 700 N. River Rd., Des Plaines. For further information and directions, call 847-824-5155 or www.oehlerfuneralhome.com. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailyherald/obituary.aspx?pid=177119293...
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January 13, 2016 |
People
Patrick J. Schauer, 62, of Wheaton, IL passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 27, 2015. He was born January 13, 1953 in Ft. Wayne, IN. He moved to Illinois to attend Northwestern University and was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity and Norlegama Honor Society. In 1975 he graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BSc), Communication and Media Studies. He then attended Indiana University, Bloomington, IN where he received a Doctor of Law (J.D), Trial Practice in 1979.
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January 13, 2016 |
People
Marvin D. Dunn, 85, of Batavia passed away Saturday, December 26, 2015, at The Tillers in Oswego. He was born June 4, 1930, in Normal, Illinois, the son of Ollie E. Dunn and Ruby (Bradley) Dunn.
Marv graduated from Normal Community High in 1948, attended Illinois State University graduated from the University Of Illinois School Of Business in 1954 and received his Law degree from the University of Illinois in 1957. He joined the Sears and Streit Law firm of Aurora as an associate in 1957, then joined Arthur Puklin and Jerome Nelson in 1964 forming Puklin Nelson and Dunn, Attorneys at Law, Aurora Illinois. He served as an Assistant States Attorney of Kane County representing the Kane County Board and The Kane County Forest Preserve. He was elected Circuit Court Judge, 16th Judicial Circuit in 1976-1986, serving as Chief Judge from 1981-1983 and again in 1985-1986. Marv became an Appellate Court Justice in 1986, serving until his retirement in 1992. -
December 14, 2015 |
People
Thomas R. Smith, 76, of Danville passed away at home on Monday (Nov. 23, 2015).
Thomas was born Aug. 6, 1939, to Kenneth and Naydean (Phillips) Smith. He married Nancy (Underwood) Nixon on June 6, 1975; she survives.
Also surviving are a stepdaughter, Melissa (Matthew) Muirhead of Danville; his children, Kenneth Smith of Milwaukee, Thomas Smith of Zionsville, Ind., Melinda Smith of Zionsville, Michele (Mark) Jones of Monrovia, Ind.; and eight grandchildren, including a very special grandson, Grant Thomas Muirhead.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Jack Smith.
As a youth, he was active in Boy Scout of America, earning his Eagle Scout badge and representing his council several times in both national and international gatherings. He was a member of the Danville Jaycees, serving a term as president. He was an avid sports fan, especially Illini sports and the Indianapolis Colts.
Thomas graduated from Danville High School in 1957, DePauw University, Greencastle, Ind. where he was a member of the golf team in 1961, and the University Of Illinois College Of Law in 1964.
He practiced law in Danville for 50 years and was a partner in the law firm of Acton & Snyder. Thomas was also a member of both the Illinois and Indiana State Bar Associations, as well as the Vermilion County Bar Association.
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December 14, 2015 |
People
J. Robert "Bob" Murphy passed away peacefully at home in Geneva on November 18, 2015, just days before his 92nd birthday. He was born November 26, 1923 in Chicago, to William and Louise (Florence) Murphy.
Bob graduated from West Aurora High School in 1941 and received a scholarship to Harvard University. While at Harvard, in 1943, Bob was inducted into the U.S. Army. He served in the Army Air Force for three years before returning to Harvard to resume his education, entering and attending Harvard Law School from 1946 to 1948. Bob then returned to Aurora, where he opened his law practice in 1949.
Bob married Teresa (Chambers) on September 4, 1950, and together, they had six children.
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December 10, 2015 |
People
Even though her leukemia returned after she endured a stem cell transplant, Judge Jean Prendergast Rooney didn’t let that prevent her from hosting Thanksgiving.
She ordered a catered Thanksgiving meal — making sure it was gluten-free for celiac-sensitive relatives — and arranged a sit-down dinner for 10 in her room at the University of Chicago Medical Center.
Two weeks later, the respected jurist died at 45, leaving three children behind.
Jean Prendergast Rooney, an appellate law expert and judge of the Cook County Circuit Court, died Tuesday at the University of Chicago Medical Center.
She was the first woman from her law class to become a member of the judiciary, according to Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, her former classmate at Loyola University School of Law.
“And this is an impressive feat,” Madigan noted at Mrs. Rooney’s swearing-in, “in part because Jean was the youngest member of our law school class going through Loyola’s elite six-year accelerated program. So Jean finished college and started law school while the rest of her peers were struggling through what was hopefully their senior year.”
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December 7, 2015 |
People
Ferdinand P. Serpe, Jr., 60, passed away on December 5. Devoted husband of Roseanne (nee Falzone) Sorrentino Serpe; Beloved son of Elizabeth "Betty" and the late Ferdinand Serpe, Sr.; Loving brother of Elizabeth Serpe; Dear godfather and friend to many.
Fred was the principal of Law Offices of Ferdinand P. Serpe and Associates, former executive director of Illinois Trucking Association, past president of the West Suburban Bar Association, was active in the Justinian Society of Lawyers and was president emeritus of the Italian American Political Coalition.