the daily

Robert A. Kraft, former LG fire chief, dead at 83

Village flag flies at half mast to honor Robert Kraft, former La Grange fire chief, who died Monday, Dec. 14.

Former La Grange Fire Chief Robert A. Kraft died Monday, Dec. 14. He was 83 years old.

The flag on the lawn of Village Hall this week is being flown at half mast in Kraft's honor.

Kraft served the village for nearly 28 years, beginning as a firefighter in Dec. 1952. He was subsequently promoted to the ranks of fire captain and fire marshal. He was appointed the village's fire chief in Dec. 1963, a position he held for 14 years until his retirement in March 1978.

Chief Kraft returned to serve in a part-time capacity as a building inspector between 1981-1983.

A U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, Kraft is survived by Audrey, his wife of 58 years; three children; and five grandchildren, according to the Adolf Funeral Home of Willowbrook, where services were held this morning. Inurnment will be at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.

Memorials to St. Thomas Hospice, 8230 S. Madison St., Burr Ridge, IL 60527 or the American Cancer Society are encouraged by his family.

Fund established to help children of Cari Lyn Cook

A fund has been established to cover future expenses for the children of Cari Lyn Cook, the Countryside woman who died May 19 after being struck by a vehicle while crossing 47th St in La Grange.

The children, two-year-old Ellie and four-month-old Carson, were with their mother at the time of the accident. Carson suffered a fractured leg; Ellie was unharmed.

Monies collected by the fund will be used to provide "education, child care, medical needs and any other costs related to the needs of the children," according to information posted on the Cari Lyn Cook memorial website, cookfamilyfund.com.

"Although Carson and Ellie will have the love and support of many friends and family, life will not be easy as [Cari's husband] Matt tries to raise two young children while providing for his family," the website said.

The website also contains a guest book and photo album where visitors can share their thoughts, stories and pictures of Cari.

Click here to read full coverage of both the accident and the aftermath.

Services set for Cari Cook, victim of 47th St accident

A wake for Cari Lyn Cook, who died Tuesday after being struck by a vehicle while crossing 47th St in La Grange with her two small children, will be held Friday from 2:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at the Blake-Lamb Funeral Home, 4727 W 103rd St, Oak Lawn, according to a funeral home spokeswoman.

Cook's funeral will be held Saturday beginning at 10:15 a.m. with prayers at Blake-Lamb. Services will follow at 11:00 a.m. at Queen of Martyrs Catholic Church, 3550 W 103rd St, Evergreen Park. Burial will be at Chapel Hill Gardens South Cemetary in Oak Lawn.

No information regarding flowers or donations was available, the Blake-Lamb spokeswoman said.

Click here to read full coverage of both the accident and the aftermath.

Man decapitated by IHB freight train ruled a suicide

The death of a 61-year old Lyons man who was run over by a freight train on the Indiana Harbor Belt rail line Friday afternoon has been ruled a suicide, La Grange Police Chief Michael Holub said today.

The victim, Joseph Dubinskas, was decapitated after apparently lying down next to the southbound tracks near Ogden Ave and placing his head inside the rail as the train approached. Although the train was traveling under 10 mph, the engineer was unable to avoid hitting the victim, Holub said.

Footprints the victim left in the snow led to the scene from a stairway descending from the Ogden Ave overpass, Holub said.

Dubinskas, a Marine veteran with a history of mental illness, was tentatively identified when his description matched a missing person report filed with Lyons police by a family relative. Fingerprints later confirmed his identity, Holub said. 

La Grange veterans to hold Memorial Day services

Memorial Day will be observed in La Grange with a ceremony conducted by the American Legion, Robert E. Coulter Post No. 1941, at the war memorial on the north campus of Lyons Township High School.

The names of all Lyons Township military personnel killed in action will be read aloud during the service, which begins at 8:30 a.m.

A separate ceremony to honor all deceased veterans will be held at 11:30 a.m. at the Post, located at 900 S. La Grange Rd.

James Gilbert dies of injuries from Aug 24 car crash

James K. Gilbert, 85, of La Grange, died Saturday, Sept. 2, at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood of injuries sustained Aug 24 in an automobile accident that occurred just three blocks from the house where he and his wife, Bennie, had lived since 1946. Mrs. Gilbert, who also was injured in the crash, is recuperating at home.

Born June 23, 1921, in Drew, Mississippi, Mr. Gilbert moved to La Grange in 1934. He attended Cossitt School and Lyons Township High School. In 1939, he married Bennie, who also had moved to La Grange from Mississippi in 1936. They raised four sons: James Jr, LaVonn, Charles and Jerry. All survive their father.

Mr. Gilbert in 1985 retired from Commonwealth Edison after 40 years of employment. Prior to that, he worked locally at Electromotive Corp and Reynolds Aluminum. He also held a real estate license for much of his adult life.

"I never heard him swear," said James Jr of his father. "I never seen him take a drink. Whenever I needed him he was always there." He added that his father's reputation among the La Grange business community was so valued that "if he took you to the bank for a mortagage, his word alone would get you that mortgage."

Mr. Gilbert's  funeral is  scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 9, at Second Baptist Church, 26 Washington Ave,  La Grange. A wake will begin at 10 a.m. with services at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Parkholm Cemetary in La Grange Park.

The accident that killed Mr. Gilbert and injured his wife occurred at the intersection of S Tilden and E Lincoln Aves at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 24. when a car travelling north on Tilden apparently ran a stop sign and struck the vehicle occupied by the couple and son, LaVonn.

La Grange police refused to divulge to the daily any details regarding the accident pending receipt of a request in writing under the Freedom of Information Act.

Joyce Lightner, a niece of Mr. and Mrs.  Gilbert, also of La Grange, said she spoke with Village police chief Michael Holub, and that he told her a woman driving the other vehicle had been arrested.  Holub also told her that alcohol had been a factor, said Ms. Lightner.

Ms. Lightner Aug. 28 pleaded with Village officials during the public portion of a scheduled meeting of the Village board of trustees to make improvements to the traffic signage at the intersection, citing several close calls of her own while driving through it.

New signs at the intersection were evident today. They alert drivers on Tilden that traffic on Lincoln Ave, which crosses the Indiana Harbor Belt railway immediately east of the intersection, does not stop.

James Gilbert in 1985 at a party celebrating his retirement from Commonwealth Edison after 40 years of employment.