Wassil Wituk

WASSIL WITUK, age 88, of Batavia, IL, formerly of Elburn, passed away in the early morning hours of Tuesday, October 25, surrounded by the love and prayers of his family. BORN: He was born June 3, 1923 in the Ukraine where he grew up and attended local schools. After the war, his new found bride, Katherine Zehetner and their young son Helmut, found sponsors who helped them to immigrate from Austria to the United States in 1949. They settled in Illinois and made a home in Hampshire where Wassil began to work on a dairy farm. RESIDENTIAL HISTORY: In 1957, the family moved to a farm on Rt. 38 and continued to raise a family that would eventually number eight children. In 1969 he left the farm and moved from the fields to the "city" when they settled in Elburn. Wassil worked various jobs over the years but spent twenty years working at Little Traveler in Geneva. In 1989 he retired once again, this time for good and made a home in Batavia. MEMBERSHIPS: Wassil was a faithful member of the St. Gall Catholic Church in Elburn for many years. LIFE NOTES: Wassil had a special place in his heart for horses and loved to ride horseback across the countryside. He loved the outdoors and spent as much time each day as he could with Mother Nature. When he found himself indoors, he immersed himself in the guilty pleasure of Professional Wrestling on television and swore up and down that it was "real". In his later years, Wassil utilized his creative talents creating detailed animal figures and lifelike flowers from pieces of wood, true masterpieces fit for display in and outside the homes of family and friends. SURVIVORS: He is survived by seven children:Helmut (Carole) Wituk, Mark (Cathy) Wituk, Judy (Jim) Woods, Fran (John) Joyner, Kathy McIlnay, Betty Wituk and Heidi (Joe) Jakubaitis;19 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren with another on the way;PRECEDED:He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Katherine, one son Jim Wituk and a grandson Randy Joyner. VISITATION / FUNERAL Visitation will be from 4-6:30 p.m., with a funeral service to follow at 7 p.m., Tuesday, November 1, 2011 at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn. Fr. Karl Ganss, pastor of St. Gall Catholic Church, will officiate with private family interment following cremation. MEMORIAL A memorial has been established in his name to benefit his favorite charities. Checks may be made to the "Wassil Wituk Memorial" and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address or on the web at www.conleycare.com. The family wishes to thank a special care giver, Regina Rimaviciene, the Aurora Rehabilitation Center where he recently made his home and especially Hospice Passages for their outstanding care for not only Wassil but also the rest of the family as well.

116 W. Pierce Street, Elburn, IL

A private family burial will follow cremation.