Joseph F. Urbanek

Joseph F. Urbanek, of Bloomingdale, ended his journey through life peacefully on May 18, 2024– just twenty days short of his 90th birthday. Joe succumbed to the complications of advanced age while residing at Sunrise of Bloomingdale Senior Living Community. Joe was born on June 6, 1934 to Joseph R. Urbanek and Lillian E. (Zarobsky) Urbanek and grew up on the once tree-lined streets of Elmwood Park. He graduated in 1952 with a varsity letter in swimming from Proviso Township High School. He proudly enlisted in the United States Army in 1954 and served two years as part of the World War II Army of Occupation in Germany. Joe worked his way up to the rank of Specialist 3 in the 69th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Brigade by preparing hundreds of meals daily for officers and enlisted men serving with him. His great pride in serving his country was one of the constant themes of his long life. He was a past member of both the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. After an honorable discharge in 1956, Joe joined Midwest Cortland, Inc. of Chicago, later in Schiller Park, a non-metallic fabricating business opened by his father in 1927. He stayed in business with his father and only brother, Roy, until 2015, when he retired. During most of his career, Joe served the company as vice president of production. He earned a wide reputation as a fair and honorable business partner with numerous large and small firms both across the United States and internationally. On October 18, 1958, Joe married Arlene F. Schweitzer at St. Peter’s Evangelical and Reformed Church in Elmhurst. After 59 years of marriage, which included world travel and an overwhelming love and support for their family, Arlene died of Alzheimer’s Disease in 2017. Her death left a large void in his life and the lives of their family. Joe and Arlene are now re-united after a seven-year separation. A long-time resident of Medinah, Joe was an avid swimmer, boater, target shooter and hunter who dabbled in golf. But he was at his best as a fisherman, spending many placid days seeking that elusive trophy on lakes throughout Wisconsin and Canada as well as on the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida. Joe also was an amateur woodworker who built furniture. But his favorite pastimes were meticulously caring for the family’s nearly two-acre estate in Medinah and the sport of hockey. He lived and died with the successes and failures of his beloved Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Wolves, while passing his love for the game onto his children and grandchildren. Joe also was proceeded in death by his mother, father, and brother. He is survived by two sons, David (Jeanne) Urbanek of Springfield, Illinois, Joseph (Rene) Urbanek of Bartlett, Illinois and one daughter, Karen (Brian) Witte of Marathon, Florida; seven grandchildren: Robert Urbanek, Christopher (Elizabeth) Urbanek, Aubrey (Aaron) Berry, Marisa (Nicholas) Anderson, Allison (Hunter) Devroy, Mark (Elizabeth) Witte and Jonathon (Morgan) Witte; three great-grandchildren: Rileigh Urbanek, James Urbanek and Islay Berry; and numerous nieces and nephews. Interment and military honors for Joe will be conducted on May 25 during a private ceremony at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Elmhurst. The family was assisted in Joe’s transition by Salerno’s Rosedale Chapel of Roselle.