Michael “Mike” Kazaitis, age 68, of Palos Park, IL, passed away peacefully on January 28, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.
He was the devoted husband of Debra Kazaitis (née Lindemulder), with whom he shared 42 wonderful years of marriage filled with love, family, travel, and friendship. Mike was a proud father to Jennifer (Mark Helms) and Allison (Adam Schowengerdt) and a doting grandfather to Lawson and Ivelyn “Ivy” Helms. He is also survived by his brother George (Diane) Kazaitis, his sister-in-law Roxanne Kazaitis, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Bernice Kazaitis (née Storz), his brother Frank, and his sister Helen (Bob) Krickhahn.
An engineer by training and a plant manager by career, Mike was a natural problem solver and innovator with multiple patents to his name. He was a handyman whose handiwork—decks, remodeled bathrooms, hardwood floors, landscaping, and handmade furniture—remains in the homes he touched. Mike’s love of the outdoors shone through his hobbies as a runner, cyclist, photographer, and volunteer with local forest preserve restoration groups. He was a well-known sports photographer, capturing local baseball and church team action for the community.
Mike will be remembered for his gentle spirit, devotion to family, and dedication to both work and community. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Wellness House for Living with Cancer: https://wellnesshouse.org/donate
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Family and friends will gather for visitation on Friday, February 6, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with funeral services on Saturday, February 7, 2026, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at Palos-Gaidas Funeral Home, 11028 Southwest Highway, Palos Hills, IL. Funeral Mass will begin at 10:00 a.m., with interment at St. Casimir Lithuanian Cemetery.