Obituaries

We will update the list of names of our deceased warriors on a monthly basis. We will not place a person on this list with hearsay, second hand, information. Send us a link to the obituary, noting the date and name of the newspaper from which it was taken. If you don't have the obit, then you must be related to, or a close friend who attended the wake, funeral or memorial service.

October 2026
Theodore Lange '76
Peter Burchard 73
  Theodore Lange - Class '76
Theodore A. Lange, age 68, of Palatine, IL, passed away September 26, 2026. Beloved husband of Carole, nee Bentle, for 38 years; loving father of Adam and Ryan; cherished brother of Barbara (James) Citti, John Lange and Joseph (Elan) Lange. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward J. Lange and Grace LaVerne Lange. Ted is also survived by many nieces and nephews, many great-nieces and great-nephews and countless friends. Born in Chicago, IL on April 4, 1958, Ted was raised on Ash Street in Des Plaines, IL, living the quintessential 1960's childhood of playing ball in the street, riding his bike all around the neighborhood and beyond and coming in when the street lights came on. After graduating from Maine West High School in 1976, Ted started his business, The Fine Line, providing hand painted car pinstriping for various dealerships and body shops, expanding to sign creation and vinyl applications for numerous businesses. Ted's passing leaves a huge void in the life of everyone he knew and loved. He will be remembered for his sense of humor and mischievous grin, his spirit of adventure, pride in his work, his dedication to his family and especially, his devotion to caring for his wife, Carole. Life brought no challenge too great for Ted to accept or conquer. Along with his loving and giving spirit, Ted will be remembered for his incredible ability to quote, word for word, from numerous movies and TV shows. Being part of a weekly trivia team was something he looked forward to every Wednesday evening. He was a big fan of alternative rock music and attended a myriad of concerts in his lifetime. Ted was a lexophile and enjoyed using his newly acquired words in his everyday conversation. He was a lifelong fan of the Chicago Blackhawks and was fortunate to celebrate multiple championships with them. One of his biggest passions, though, was cars - cars he owned as well as motor sports. After owning a diverse assortment of cars, he was able to purchase his dream car – a white 1984 Mustang GT 5.0 convertible. Ted could, and would, strike up a conversation with anyone he was around, a trait he acquired from his dear mother. He absorbed a keen attention to detail and pride in his work from his dear father. A Celebration of Ted's Life will be held on Thursday, October 8, 2026, with visitation beginning at 10:00 AM, followed by a service at 11:00 AM at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 1190 N. Hicks Road. Palatine, IL. Info @ www.williams-kampp.com or (630) 668-0016. In lieu of flowers donations appreciated to the family in care of Carole Lange.
Peter Burchard - Class '73
Peter T. Burchard, 71, of Geneva, IL, beloved husband of Denise E. Burchard (née Pultorak), passed away peacefully on September 29, 2026, after a courageous battle with ALS. Peter lived his life guided by faith, family, friendship, service, and a genuine love for people. He believed deeply in showing up for others, whether that meant serving his community, helping a friend or family member, or simply being there when someone needed him. Peter and Denise shared 38 years of marriage, family, laughter, faith, and countless adventures. He is survived by Denise and their three children: Stephanie (Corwin) Lawrence of Madison, WI; Lauren (Jake) Harris of St. Louis, MO; and David Burchard of Geneva, IL. His greatest joy was his family, especially his six cherished grandchildren: Nellodee, Orson, Judah, Deacon, Dorothea, and Aspen. Peter treasured his role as a grandfather and the unique relationships he built with each of them. He took great pride in watching them grow, and they brought him immeasurable joy. Peter is also survived by his siblings Jack (Peg) Burchard, Matt (Carol) Burchard, Luke (Pam) Burchard, Dorothy (Dan) Dexl, Paul (Lisa Durack) Burchard, Peg Manning, Jim Burchard, and Katy (Bob) Klages, along with a very large and loving extended family of nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, their spouses, and the Pultorak family, including Georgia, John, Cheryl, Allison, and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Dorothy Burchard; his brother, Mark; his father-in-law, Tom Pultorak; and one particularly important childhood and lifelong hero, Ernie Banks. Peter grew up in Des Plaines, IL, where he attended St. Mary’s Grade School and Maine West High School. He went on to Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and later studied International Relations at Salzburg College in Austria. He graduated from NIU with degrees in Political Science and a Master of Public Administration. Peter served as Village Manager in Hoffman Estates and City Manager in Naperville. He also worked as Chief Operating Officer for a healthcare company in Augusta, GA; taught at NIU; and worked as a public- and private-sector consultant. He served on numerous boards and organizations, including the Northern Illinois University Alumni Association, the Alliance for Innovation, the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy, and the Board of Directors of Hoffman Estates Medical Center, where he served as president. And then there was Peter’s “side gig.” For 50 years, he worked as an auctioneer, lending his quick wit, booming voice, and considerable ability to persuade people to charitable events throughout the region. He particularly enjoyed auctioneering for charitable causes, including events benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Chicago, where he even found himself sharing the stage with celebrities such as Howie Mandel. For more than ten years, Peter also led Sunday morning worship services at Lee Manor Nursing Home in Des Plaines. Peter faced ALS with remarkable courage. During his final months, his family witnessed something that would become one of the greatest gifts of his life: an endless stream of family and friends coming through the door. There were visits, prayers, stories, laughter, tears, and countless moments that his family will treasure forever. Peter often said that his family and friends were his “treatment program.” Peter will be remembered for his faith, his generosity, his sense of humor, his love of family, his devotion to public service, and his remarkable ability to make people feel welcome and valued. He had a gift for making connections, making people laugh, and making sure no one felt like a stranger for very long. His legacy is not found only in the positions he held, the organizations he served, or the many people he helped along the way. It lives in the family he loved, the friendships he nurtured, the communities he served, and the countless people who were better for having known him. Visitation will be held at Yurs Funeral Home, 1771 W. State St., Geneva, IL 60134, on Sunday, October 4, 2026, from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue the following morning at 9:00 a.m. at Chapelstreet Church, 2300 South St,. Geneva, IL, followed by a funeral service at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Union Cemetery, 1206 N. 5th Ave., St. Charles, Illinois 60174.