Catherine Trage, 44, Co-owner of Trage Appliances
Catherine Anne Trage (O’Connor) of River Forest died suddenly, Feb. 22, while vacationing in Mexico. Raised in River Forest by her parents, James and Rosaire O’Connor, Trage graduated from St. Luke School in 1977, Oak Park and River Forest High School in 1981, and Northern Illinois University in 1985.
She married John Trage in 1988 and they had four children, Lauren, 18, Jack, 16, Alex, 13, and Regan, 8. At Lincoln School in River Forest she served as a Great Books leader and president of the PTO. In business, she co-owned Trage Bros. Appliances in Forest Park and earlier in her business career was vice president of Custom Research and Guideline, Inc.
She loved art, music, books, and most of all her family. Family and friends described her as a kind, compassionate and intelligent woman who gave freely to all.
“She was a wonderful wife, mother, and friend,” Bridget Garlisch said. “She’ll be greatly missed, and never forgotten.”
Trage is survived by her husband, children and parents, as well as five brothers and sisters, James Jr., Michael, Daniel, David, and Mary; her in-laws, Judith, Edmund, Dennis, William, Judith and Mary Alice Trage; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Visitation will be held at Drechsler, Brown, & Williams Funeral Home, 203 S. Marion St. in Oak Park on Thursday, Feb. 28, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. A funeral service will be held at Unity Temple, 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 29. Friends and family are asked to gather at 10:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Catherine A. Trage Charitable Trust at Private Bank and Trust, 1110 Jorie Blvd. in Oak Brook are appreciated.
Kathryn M. Goetz, 81, Lifelong Forest Park resident
Kathryn M. Goetz (Younger), 81, of Forest Park, died Feb. 20, 2008. She was a 1944 graduate of Proviso High School and worked for 30 years at Sears Roebuck as an assistant buyer. Goetz was a lifelong village resident.
She is survived by her sons, Dave Goetz and Dale Goetz; three grandchildren, Sarah, Adam and Faith; and a brother, Jim Younger.
She was predeceased by her sister, Roberta Majerczyk.
The Zimmerman-Harnett Funeral Home, 7319 Madison St. in Forest Park handled the funeral arrangements. Interment will be at Mt. Auburn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorials to the American Cancer Society are appreciated.
Gerald M. Wischler, 66, Attended Grant-White Elementary
Gerald M. Wischler, 66, died on Jan. 30, 2008. He was born July 25, 1941, at Oak Park Rush Hospital to Alice (Good) and Joseph Wischler of Forest Park.
Wischler attended Grant-White Elementary School and Proviso East High School. He went on to work for Wilson Sporting Goods in River Grove where he befriended a number of area athletes. Wischler was an avid bowler. He later moved to Michigan where he met his wife, Margaret Bresinski, and in 1977 had a son, Joseph. He volunteered many hours of his time playing Santa at area nursing homes, but was forced to scale back his charitable work as his health declined.
Wischler is survived by his mother, Alice; his uncle and former Forest Park police chief Lew Good; four cousins, Sharon Good, Jinny De Milio, Daniel Good, Timothy Good; and other friends and family.
He was predeceased by his father, Joseph. Services were held in Michigan.
