Roy Kohnke Obituary

Roy William "Budd" Kohnke
Born: October 9, 1948 in Chicago, IL
Died: February 28, 2025 in Berwyn, IL
Roy "Budd" Kohnke, Jr. has ridden off into the sunset like the cowboy at heart that he was. He cracked his first smile in this world in 1948 on the Northwest side of Chicago and stayed true to his Chicago roots until his final credits rolled in February 2025. Budd always had a quick wit and made others laugh often. He was a lover of horses and dogs, spending many years with both. He found his way on stage as a guitarist at Lane Technical High School and often performed for family throughout his life. Having attended the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts, followed by an early career as a commercial artist, Budd was an amazing artist who could paint on anything from bass drum heads and leather jackets to canvas and the walls of his grandchildren's bedrooms. He was loved in life and will be dearly missed by his daughter Lisa, his son Stephan with wife Joan (Faux) and grandchildren Ayla and Eden, as well as a large extended family. Thank you for the good times, Dad/Pappy/Buddy; we'll miss you and love you always! "I'm Proud Of Ya. All Of Ya. Every Man Wants His Children To Be Better Than He Was. You Are" ~ John Wayne, The Cowboys