Violet Kostal

Violet KostalAge 91 of St. Charles, formerly of Chicago, Passed away Saturday morning, February 10, 2007 at the Delnor Glen Assisted Living Center, St. Charles, where she had made her home in recent years. BORN / EARLY YEARSBorn May 13, 1915, in Chicago, IL, the daughter of Louis and Clara (Paulsen) Chaloupka.EDUCATIONViolet was an only child but had dozens of cousins in her large Danish family. When she was young, her mother sent her to dancing school where Violet’s natural talents, coupled with her mother’s discipline, blossomed. She studied everything from tap to ballet and as a young woman, enjoyed a promising career in vaudeville. As a cheerleader, she caught they eye of the entire football team but captured the heart of Wilbur "Bill" Kostal. As romance progressed toward matrimony, the world was in the midst of the Great Depression, but her enterprising fiancee found a way to raise the money he needed to buy her an engagement ring. He held a public dance and the proceeds did indeed buy Violet’s ring. He was the love of her life and she left plans for Broadway to become his wife and the mother of their children.Violet was both beautiful and brilliant and her head for numbers allowed her to excel as well in the world of business. She kept books for several Chicago companies, retiring eventually as comptroller of the Elvart Company, a commercial painting contractor. Through their family years, both Violet and Bill helped out as a volunteer coaches and gym teachers in the after-hours programs in Chicago city schools. In 1966, Violet lost her beloved "Bill" but her independent spirit and love for life helped her continue. She enjoyed many trips and became a "world traveler" with journeys to Japan, Egypt, Europe and throughout North America. If age is just a challenge of "mind over matter", to Violet, age never mattered. She never lost her joy for living, nor her knack for flirting! So it was that, in time, another widower, Lee Reder, came into her life and they shared a number of happy years together. Lee introduced Violet to golfing and she became an avid golfer, passing her love of the sport to the next generation. True to form, Violet remained athletic to the end, showing off that she could still touch her toes and even raise her leg over her head – just weeks before her death. Violet loved chocolate and desert was her favorite course at any meal (as well as in between them!) An avid reader, she loved mysteries, history and plots with substance. Her analytical mind excelled at cards. From Bridge to Poker, she was a formidable opponent at the card table. MEMBERSHIPSAs for her spiritual side, Violet was raised Lutheran and was a faithful member of the Calvary Lutheran Church at 62nd and Kenneth, Chicago. As loved one’s remember, she was also a "short-term" Presbyterian as well. SURVIVORS She is survived by her son Michael (Harriet) Kostal of rural St. Charles, five grandchildren: Michael (Jean) Kostal of Naperville, IL andKristen Kostal of rural St. Charles, IL ;Sue (Conrad) Epting of Oakland, CA,Beth (Mike) Powers of Amherst, NHLaura (Patrick) Burgess of Columbia, SC, Her former son-in-law, Robert (Marty) Haverkamp of Virginia , (husband of the late Kay Kostal Haverkamp)six great grandchildren Emma and Jack Kostal, Julio Truman Epting, Elizabeth Powers, Edward "Gus" and Flynn Burgess.PRECEDED She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Wilbur "Bill", and one daughter, Kay Haverkamp.VISITATION / FUNERAL Visitation will be held Thursday, February 15, 2007 from 4pm to 6:30pm at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL. An evening funeral service will follow at 7pm. The Rev. Peter Akemann, pastor of the Lily Lake Congregational Church, will officiate. Cemetery committal services will follow Friday morning, at 11am, February 16 at Chapel Hill Gardens Cemetery, Oakbrook Terrace, IL. MEMORIAL A memorial has been established in Violet’s name to benefit Vitas hospice and other charities. Memorials checks may be made to the Violet Kostal Memorial and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and memories may also be forwarded to the family at the same address or through her obituary at www.conleycare.com. For information, please call 1-800-8-CONLEY.

Visitation will be held Thursday February 15, 2007 from 4pm-6:30pm. An evening Funeral Service will begin at 7pm.

Friday February 16th at 11am