Obituaries

OBITUARIES Rev. Paul Landahl, 82, Lutheran bishop served on RBHS board

The Rev. Paul Landahl, 82, died peacefully on Aug. 31, 2020, surrounded by his family.

Rev. Landahl was born on April 4, 1938, to Gustav and Bertha, Swedish immigrants. He was a graduate of Valparaiso University and Concordia Seminary. His lifetime of ministry took a remarkable range of forms: mission developer, parish minister of Ascension Lutheran Church in Riverside, an associate to the bishop, bishop of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, and finally the director of candidacy for the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.

His ministry was founded on a true love of community and people, a passion for finding ways to grow the church and make it more inclusive, and an unwavering commitment to social justice. Rev. Landahl’s youthful spirit matched well with his passion for working with younger people, whether it was leading trips in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area for 20 years to supporting seminary students navigating the candidacy process. His strong sense of service and calling was an inspiration

REV. PAUL LANDAHL to many. While he was bishop of the Metro Chicago Synod from 2001-07, he advocated for the rights of LGBTQ parishioners and ministers in the ELCA and led the efforts to become a Reconciling in Christ synod.

Through his leadership as bishop, he was a tireless advocate for the rights of marginalized groups including people who live in poverty, persons of color, and the LGBTQ community.

In the words of those who knew him, “He lived a consequential life, walked his values, was a force, a beautiful soul, and someone who showed what compassion looks like.” Joy and justice lived in Rev. Landahl’s spirit.

Rev. Landahl also served his community as a longtime member and chairman of the Riverside Township Mental Health Board, volunteer and board member at BEDS Plus, and as a board member of Riverside-Brookfield High School District 208. He loved his community and Chicago including the Cubs, food and architecture.

He had a deep and abiding love for his family. His boundless energy enabled him to accomplish many great things in his life and also allowed him to be an amazing and supportive husband and dad.

Rev. Landahl’s sense of humor and positive spirit helped his family through good and difficult times. He embraced and celebrated life with music. He cherished family dinners and always welcomed an interesting political conversation. He was a rock of support for his children and grandchildren and will be deeply missed.

He was the husband of Carolyn who died in 2010; the father of Elizabeth (Heather Cusick), Amy (Mark Hill) and Matthew (Jeannette Payne); and ‘Papa’ to Eleanor and Nathan Hill and Jonah Landahl. He was preceded in death by his brother, George, and survived by his older brothers, John and Graydon.

The family is planning a memorial service for him when it is safe to do so. Memorial donations are welcome and appreciated to Ascension Lutheran Church, 400 Nuttall Road, Riverside, 60546 or BEDS Plus (beds-plus.org).

Arrangements were handled by The Original Kuratko Family, Kenneth D. and Brian D. Kuratko, directors.

NEWS Three men rob Riverside 7-Eleven of cash, cigarettes

Three men wearing masks, one of whom implied he was armed with a handgun, robbed 7-Eleven, 2600 Harlem Ave., on the night of Sept. 5, making off with an undisclosed amount of cash and cigarettes.

According to police, the clerk on duty said the three men all came inside the store about a half hour before the robbery, walked around, bought nothing and left.

At about 8:50 p.m. they returned, said police. No one other than the clerk was inside the store at the time. The men immediately went behind the counter, reportedly threatened the clerk by implying but not displaying a handgun and grabbed the proceeds from the store. The clerk was not harmed.

The three men left the store through the rear emergency exit. The clerk told police he didn’t see a vehicle and a witness told police he saw three men running behind the Red Wing Shoes store across 26th Street to the north.

Police, including a North Riverside K-9 unit, searched the area for suspects but were unable to locate any.

The incident was captured on surveillance cameras inside the store. All three suspects are Black males and wore face coverings.

The first was of medium build, wearing a red hat, blue jeans and a black T-shirt. The second, also of medium build, wore a black sweatshirt with the words, “My Block, My Hood, My City” in blue print on it. He also wore multi-colored pants and yellow shoes. The third wore wearing camouflage hoodie.

Anyone with information is asked to call Riverside police at 708-447-2127 or send an anonymous email to crimetips@riverside.il.us. — Bob Uphues

PROVIDED Surveillance cameras captured video of the three men suspected of robbing 7-Eleven atHarlem Avenue and 26th Street in Riverside on Sept. 5.

Brookeld  re ghters respond to two  res No one hurt, but one home seriously damaged

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Brookfield firefighters responded to two fires over the holiday weekend, and while no one was hurt in either incident, flames and smoke did serious damage to at least one of the homes involved.

Firefighters responded to the first and more serious of the two fires at about 1:25 a.m. on Sept. 6 at 2931 Vernon Ave. Six people, including three children under the age of 10, were able to evacuate the home unharmed after the rear wood deck caught fire.

The cause of the fire does not appear to have been suspicious, but it remains under investigation. The family reportedly was using a propane fire pit on the deck that night, but someone assured emergency responders that the fire pit had been shut down properly before they went inside.

The flames spread from the deck to the rear wall of the home, according to a police report about the incident, and then spread to north side of the residence to the south. Police evacuated that home as well.

According to the police report, burning embers appear to have damaged the roof of a third home, though that damage does not appear to have been serious.

‘Sparks’ before Maple Ave. fi re

Faulty wiring appears to have been the cause of a fire late on Sept. 7 at 3141 Maple Ave. in Brookfield.

According to the police report from the incident, residents of the home said they saw “sparks” coming from a vent in the master bathroom as well as sparks coming from the switch that operated the vent. They also reported that the lights flickered before smelling smoke and evacuating the home safely.

When emergency personnel arrived, they reported smoke coming from the roof vents of the home. The attic of the home was filled with smoke and firefighters reported a fire below the insulation of the attic.

While the house was not declared uninhabitable, the family did relocate for the time being, said police, since the smoke in the house had been so heavy and the smell excessive.

D103 special ed chief out, but replacement might be in house

New P re-K director has years of experience in special ed role

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

After little more than one year on the job, the special education director of LyonsBrookfield School District 103 has resigned, but her replacement might already be working for the district.

Colleen Bergren, the district’s director of student services, has resigned apparently to take a job back in Indiana. Bergren was hired by District 103 last year.

She had worked with District 103 Superintendent Kristopher Rivera in the Hammond school district where she had been a middle school principal. Bergren could not be reached for comment.

Kim West, the district’s new early childhood education director, has extensive This year she is being paid $92,000 West was succeeded in District 92 by Nora experience in special education, to run the District 103 pre-kinderSkentzos who had been the director of student having worked as the special edugarten program. services at Brookfield-LaGrange Park District cation School director District for Will 92 for the C p ounty ast 11 District intendent 92 SuperTim Ar“As an educator 95. Skentzos had been a member years. West was hired by District 103 nold did multiple not return phone calls I always want of the District 92 until she resigned school board that position this summer to replace Chris asking for comment. our programs to take the job with the district. Newell, who founded the district’s pre-kindergarten program 34 West has wo in education rked for to continue to Skentzos that she told the L did not why andmark West reyears since. ago and who had run it ever KIM WEST nearly started 20 years. She her career as get better for signed. West received a bachelor’s de

“I have big shoes to fill,” West a paraprofessional the success of all gree in social work from Lewis said. with “Chris Newell this program. S did an he left it exemplary job in great shape. for erat a special education coopive in Lockport. In 2002, she students.” University and went on to earn a master’s degree in special eduAs an educator I to continue to get always want our programs better for the success of all was hired to teach a self-contained fifth-grade classroom for KIM WEST cation from Lewis. completed all the She has also coursework students.” students with emotional and beD103 Pre-K director necessary for a doctorate in ed

West announced her intention to resign havioral disorders in Joliet. ucational leadership at Lewis. from District 92 in March. She told the LandIn 2004, she moved to LockCurrently the pre-kindergarmark that she resigned for personal reasons. port High School to become ten program in District 103 is

“I needed a change,” West said. the school’s pre-vocational coordinator and being conducted remotely. As soon as a dis

West, who held the title of assistant superrose to chairwoman of the special education trict order for Chromebooks is delivered, evintendent for special education at District 92, department at Lockport High School before ery family in the program will be given one of made an annual salary of $143,112 last year. moving on to District 92 in 2009. the devices to use.

Read it online at www.rblandmark.com

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