1939
Kenneth
2025
Kenneth Vojtech
July 24, 1939 — March 17, 2025
Ken (Kenneth) Joseph Vojtech passed away Monday March 17
th
, 2025, born Monday, July 24
th
, 1939, in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood. Born to John Vojtech and Lucille (Szymikowski) Vojtech and big brother
Jack Vojtech (Verna). Between 1920 and 1930 Chicago Lawn grew from 14,000 to 47,000 people. Poles, Bohemians, Lithuanians followed the Irish and German from the Back of the Yards, creating the perfect ingredients for young boys looking to play ‘stick’ (base) ball when not roaming, imagining, and chasing the neighbor’s three-legged dog. Ken was known as talented athlete, agile and fast! Chicago Lawn was thriving until the Depression in 1940. This historical event forever laid the foundation for who Ken would become.
Before the family moved in 1954 to Oak Lawn, Ken became an older brother to Alan Vojtech (d.2023), Mary Lou Zajac (Joseph), Joyce Pignotti (Joe), Robert Vojtech (d. 1990), Donald Vojtech (Teresa), Joseph Vojtech (Berna d. 2017), William Vojtech (Bonnie). Shortly after the move, the family welcomed the baby of the family Bernadette (Bonnie d. 1985) (James Mulligan). Ken attended St. Nicholas of Tolentine grade school where the nuns had their hands full, but at least for 6 hours a day, the streets were safer! Jack, Ken, and Al were the three musketeers “all for one and one for all!” His oldest brother and he had their first job at 9/10 delivering newspaper to contribute money to the family coffers.
De LaSalle High School welcomed Ken as a freshman where he worked in the office to defer the tuition cost. Once moved, he attended Oak Lawn Community High School where he met his best friend and best man Joe Zajac. Along with Joe, Tom Parker and Glen Houston, greased back their hair, rolled up their sleeves, perhaps smoked a cigarette or two, cruised and ‘wooed’ the women. Driving into Chicago or Indiana, the four found pick-up basketball games wherever and against whoever they could. One time being offered a pick-up game against a girl’s college team – laughing and taking their sorry loser selves back to where they came from. Forever lived the South Side and the Chicago White Sox in Dad’s heart!
Ken could sing! He crooned like Frank Sinatra and Rocked like Elvis Presley. There was never a morning when dad didn’t sing. When he and his siblings were together be it a Sunday mass or around the kitchen table they vocalized and harmonized the night away. Music being in their genes. Their grandfather played the fiddle, and the family had sing -alongs.
His high school job was at Admiral Steel continuing to contribute to the family coffers. The steel business became Ken’s lifelong career. After high school, he went to work at Production Steel, where he met his future wife Karin nee Smith. He and Karin were married and soon welcomed their daughter Kathryn (former spouse Ken Smith), immediately followed by their son Kenneth Jr. (d. 2024). The four moved into their home in Downers Grove. Kevin (Jenny Dobson) and Kari Anne (Luke Martin) followed. The family became complete in every way. By this time Ken was working in Alsip for Gary Steel. He never missed a day of work, so that his family would never go without as he had in his childhood.
Family meant everything to Ken. Karin would pack the kids up and drive to Oak Lawn nearly every Friday night. The entire Vojtech family would gather as the men came home from work. Playing cards, having a few beers, charged discourse, and lots of singing and laughter ensued. The kitchen table is the heart of the family, no matter what the opinions, the next week would bring the love and return of everyone.
Leaving Gary Steel, he started his own company with a partner, and welcoming in his brother-in-law and lifelong best friend James Mulligan, Ken eventually ran his own company, Western Metal. Ken’s company employed all four of his children, helping them learn work ethic and earn money for their college – which is something Ken wasn’t able to do.
The final chapter I’m told is Ken’s favorite. He became a grandpa. He loved all his godchildren, nieces, and nephews, gathering their photos as they aged and newspaper clippings of their accomplishments. But his grandchildren were the light and joy of his life! He loved talking with his Joey, (Joseph) Andrew, and Willy (William)Martin every morning on their way to school. He relished hearing about their school plays, bragging about Andrew and William’s hockey achievements, or Joseph’s new belt advancement from Taekwondo.
He adored Maggie and Lucy Vojtech. Recently hearing about high school accomplishments and college choices. He shared with pride the wonderful young ladies they’ve become. With this crew he was able to do begin a yearly weeklong summer vacations tradition. Teaching them fishing, filleting the catch, campfires, and singing. His time with them was priceless.
His first grandchild, Kyle (Maggie Rauh), he had his ‘little buddy.’ I was reminded how Kyle would follow his grandpa around everywhere, but really, I think it was grandpa who did the following. Abigail (Abbygal) (fiancé Adam Happ), and Danny Smith followed shortly thereafter. Being grandchildren of the oldest child, he was able to come to everything from baseball, basketball, football, cheerleading and dance. We never had to give the man the directions. Just the time and place and there he would be. From the Metrodome in Minneapolis to the Twins Training facility in Fort Myers Florida. from 2:00am baseball games to 8:00am football games. He came with a smile on his face, food to share, and jokes for whoever was around and would listen. There was never a stranger, just someone you hadn’t met yet. When his great grandsons: Aidan, Everett, and Owen, Kyle and Maggie’s boys, were born his brag book grew even thicker!
Ken’s faith, family, and fishing were the highlights of his life. He was so proud of each and every sibling! He adored all his cousins, nieces, nephews, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. His heart grew 10 sizes each day. Some men fought in wars, earned medals and honors or degrees, but Ken earned the Degree of a life of hard knocks. How can we ever thank you for all you’ve done for all of us. You may have made it difficult by not being able to ‘take the compliment’ and love, but loved you were and your passing leaves us with holes in hearts.
Wake will be Thursday March 27th from 3:00 - 8:00pm at Countryside Funeral Home, 950 S. Bartlett Rd, Bartlett, IL. The wake will be open casket viewing. but if the PARKING LOT is FULL you are asked to park across the street in the JEWEL parking LOT; NOT NEXTDOOR!!! Please exercise caution crossing the street.
Funeral Mass will be Friday March 28th at 10:00am at Resurrection Catholic Church in 30W350 Army Trail Rd, Wayne IL. Dad will already be in the entryway of the church, closed casket. There will be a luncheon following details TBD.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Ken Vojtech’s memorial page at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR?px=8751195&fr_id=154020&pg=personal
Before the family moved in 1954 to Oak Lawn, Ken became an older brother to Alan Vojtech (d.2023), Mary Lou Zajac (Joseph), Joyce Pignotti (Joe), Robert Vojtech (d. 1990), Donald Vojtech (Teresa), Joseph Vojtech (Berna d. 2017), William Vojtech (Bonnie). Shortly after the move, the family welcomed the baby of the family Bernadette (Bonnie d. 1985) (James Mulligan). Ken attended St. Nicholas of Tolentine grade school where the nuns had their hands full, but at least for 6 hours a day, the streets were safer! Jack, Ken, and Al were the three musketeers “all for one and one for all!” His oldest brother and he had their first job at 9/10 delivering newspaper to contribute money to the family coffers.
De LaSalle High School welcomed Ken as a freshman where he worked in the office to defer the tuition cost. Once moved, he attended Oak Lawn Community High School where he met his best friend and best man Joe Zajac. Along with Joe, Tom Parker and Glen Houston, greased back their hair, rolled up their sleeves, perhaps smoked a cigarette or two, cruised and ‘wooed’ the women. Driving into Chicago or Indiana, the four found pick-up basketball games wherever and against whoever they could. One time being offered a pick-up game against a girl’s college team – laughing and taking their sorry loser selves back to where they came from. Forever lived the South Side and the Chicago White Sox in Dad’s heart!
Ken could sing! He crooned like Frank Sinatra and Rocked like Elvis Presley. There was never a morning when dad didn’t sing. When he and his siblings were together be it a Sunday mass or around the kitchen table they vocalized and harmonized the night away. Music being in their genes. Their grandfather played the fiddle, and the family had sing -alongs.
His high school job was at Admiral Steel continuing to contribute to the family coffers. The steel business became Ken’s lifelong career. After high school, he went to work at Production Steel, where he met his future wife Karin nee Smith. He and Karin were married and soon welcomed their daughter Kathryn (former spouse Ken Smith), immediately followed by their son Kenneth Jr. (d. 2024). The four moved into their home in Downers Grove. Kevin (Jenny Dobson) and Kari Anne (Luke Martin) followed. The family became complete in every way. By this time Ken was working in Alsip for Gary Steel. He never missed a day of work, so that his family would never go without as he had in his childhood.
Family meant everything to Ken. Karin would pack the kids up and drive to Oak Lawn nearly every Friday night. The entire Vojtech family would gather as the men came home from work. Playing cards, having a few beers, charged discourse, and lots of singing and laughter ensued. The kitchen table is the heart of the family, no matter what the opinions, the next week would bring the love and return of everyone.
Leaving Gary Steel, he started his own company with a partner, and welcoming in his brother-in-law and lifelong best friend James Mulligan, Ken eventually ran his own company, Western Metal. Ken’s company employed all four of his children, helping them learn work ethic and earn money for their college – which is something Ken wasn’t able to do.
The final chapter I’m told is Ken’s favorite. He became a grandpa. He loved all his godchildren, nieces, and nephews, gathering their photos as they aged and newspaper clippings of their accomplishments. But his grandchildren were the light and joy of his life! He loved talking with his Joey, (Joseph) Andrew, and Willy (William)Martin every morning on their way to school. He relished hearing about their school plays, bragging about Andrew and William’s hockey achievements, or Joseph’s new belt advancement from Taekwondo.
He adored Maggie and Lucy Vojtech. Recently hearing about high school accomplishments and college choices. He shared with pride the wonderful young ladies they’ve become. With this crew he was able to do begin a yearly weeklong summer vacations tradition. Teaching them fishing, filleting the catch, campfires, and singing. His time with them was priceless.
His first grandchild, Kyle (Maggie Rauh), he had his ‘little buddy.’ I was reminded how Kyle would follow his grandpa around everywhere, but really, I think it was grandpa who did the following. Abigail (Abbygal) (fiancé Adam Happ), and Danny Smith followed shortly thereafter. Being grandchildren of the oldest child, he was able to come to everything from baseball, basketball, football, cheerleading and dance. We never had to give the man the directions. Just the time and place and there he would be. From the Metrodome in Minneapolis to the Twins Training facility in Fort Myers Florida. from 2:00am baseball games to 8:00am football games. He came with a smile on his face, food to share, and jokes for whoever was around and would listen. There was never a stranger, just someone you hadn’t met yet. When his great grandsons: Aidan, Everett, and Owen, Kyle and Maggie’s boys, were born his brag book grew even thicker!
Ken’s faith, family, and fishing were the highlights of his life. He was so proud of each and every sibling! He adored all his cousins, nieces, nephews, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. His heart grew 10 sizes each day. Some men fought in wars, earned medals and honors or degrees, but Ken earned the Degree of a life of hard knocks. How can we ever thank you for all you’ve done for all of us. You may have made it difficult by not being able to ‘take the compliment’ and love, but loved you were and your passing leaves us with holes in hearts.
Wake will be Thursday March 27th from 3:00 - 8:00pm at Countryside Funeral Home, 950 S. Bartlett Rd, Bartlett, IL. The wake will be open casket viewing. but if the PARKING LOT is FULL you are asked to park across the street in the JEWEL parking LOT; NOT NEXTDOOR!!! Please exercise caution crossing the street.
Funeral Mass will be Friday March 28th at 10:00am at Resurrection Catholic Church in 30W350 Army Trail Rd, Wayne IL. Dad will already be in the entryway of the church, closed casket. There will be a luncheon following details TBD.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Ken Vojtech’s memorial page at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR?px=8751195&fr_id=154020&pg=personal
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Kenneth Vojtech, please visit our flower store.
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