Richard Sichrovsky Obituary

Richard J. (Sy) Sichrovsky, honored in 2005 as the oldest living Commander of Lombard VFW Post 5815, passed away January 26th at age 85 A pioneer settler at Lombard Lilac Gardens, Sy and his wife moved into their new home in 1957 when Charlotte Street south of Wilson was still an unpaved dirt road, wood planks served as sidewalks and Glenbard East was under construction. Sy is survived by his wife Connie (nee Pierce) and their children: Kathy (Jon) Lehuta; Steve (Kathy) Sichrovsky; Claudia (Dave) Stlaske; John Sichrovsky, James Sichrovsky and Barbara Sichrovsky Bombliss. He was the dear grandfather of seven - Jon Jr, Christina, Amy, Carrie, Daniel, Alyssa and Michael. A World War II veteran (1942-49), Sy wrote about his U. S. Navy experiences in the Memorial Day 2000 edition of the Lombard Pride, which included serving in the U.S. Naval Armed Guard and protecting shipping from German U-boats in the North Atlantic. He went on to serve in almost every war theater --from Algiers to Anzio, the invasion of Southern France (Aug.15, 1944), and finally in the Pacific . He was a member of Lombard American Legion Post 391, the Military Order of the Cooties (Honorary Degree of the VFW), and Past Senior Vice Commander of DuPage County VFW Council. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Sy was a Sears National Headquarters advertising executive (1952-80) and then alcohol/drug counselor at Chicago Salvation Army Freedom Center (1980-83) before Parkinson's disease caused him to be homebound. After marching in many a Lilac and Memorial Day parade, Sy had been mobile only in a power wheelchair for the past 2 ½ years while receiving very skilled care at the Quincy, Illinois Veterans Home. A Memorial Celebration in his honor will be held at Brust Funeral Home, 135 S. Main St., Saturday, February 5. Visitation 10:30 a.m. until Service, 12:30 p.m. Private interment at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. Please omit flowers. Donations to the IL Veterans Home, 1707 N. 12th St., Quincy, IL 62301, would be appreciated. Arrangements by Brust Funeral Home, 135 South Main Street, Lombard, IL. www.brustfuneralhome.com