Category: Tributes

Martin Andy Krol, a truck driver and computer technician who loved motorcycles, video games and making people laugh, died May 23 in an accident in Friendship, Wisconsin. He was 23.

Barbara Jean Zych, a longtime Elk Grove Village and Schaumburg resident who worked in data entry and newspaper management, died May 21. She was 82.

Herbert Joseph Martin, a United States Navy veteran, died May 14. He was 87.

Donald Jerome Fistler, known as Don, a visual merchandiser who spent 38 years with J.C. Penney and was an accomplished restorer of antique cars and pedal cars, died April 29 in LaGrange. He was 92.

John S. Mondzyk Jr., known to many as Moon or Johnny Boy, a carpenter who was a longtime member of Carpenters Local 54 and a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, died May 19 in Frankfort. He was 70.

Jesus Villagomez, a truck driver who spent 38 years with Corn Products International and devoted his life to family and faith, died May 15 in Justice. He was 91.

Michael Edward Polinski, a teacher in Germany who was known for his kindness, curiosity and gift for connecting with young children, died April 16, 2026, in Germany. He was 33.

Theresa M. Piwowar, a dedicated parish secretary at Saint Blase Church in Summit for many years, died May 9, 2026. She was 75.

Miguel “Mike” Gallaga, a devoted husband and father whose quiet strength and steady faith guided his family through decades of life together, died May 8, 2026, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, Illinois. He was 85.

Sebastian Borzęcki, a south side Chicago native who built a career as a real estate and automotive photographer and was known for his creativity, warmth and loyalty, died May 16, 2026, in Justice, Illinois. He was 43.