Byron Truax Jr.

1953 - 2018

Byron Edwin Truax, Jr., age 65, passed away at his apartment in Chicago, Illinois on Saturday, February 17, 2018 after a courageous journey with ALS. Byron - BJ to his family - was born on January 30, 1953 at Ft. Benning, Georgia, the first of 8 children, to Byron and Mary Anne Truax. After an early childhood in Elmhurst, Illinois, Byron spent his elementary and high school years in Miami, Florida, and graduated as a scholar athlete from Christopher Columbus High School. His competitive spirit extended to a variety of sports including track and field, basketball, and boxing. A passionate life-long learner and self-taught student of the marimba and cello, Byron was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in geology from the University of Illinois and later Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in electrical engineering from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and the University of Illinois respectively. He served for two years in the United States Army, and later went on to work for a variety of manufacturing companies in the Midwest as a design engineer. In 2012, Byron was part of a team that secured a United States patent relating to a machine management system. Bryon lived his life with an orientation towards others. In addition to his military service and contributions as an officer with the Illinois Central Section of the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and other volunteer work, Byron was known for his deep faith, as well as the generosity, kindness and graciousness he regularly displayed to family, friends, and strangers. Survivors include his parents Byron and Mary Anne Truax; siblings Helen (Ian), Tom (Laura), Mary (Robert), Patty (Steve), Terry (Laura), Richard (Sally); and numerous nieces and nephews. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday, February 22, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Ita Catholic Church at 5500 North Broadway, Chicago, Illinois. Visitation will be available at St. Ita starting at 10:15 a.m. prior to the funeral mass. Interment will be at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, Byron's family requests that any donations be directed to the Les Turner Foundation (www.lesturnerals.org), Paralyzed Veterans www.pva.org or Christopher Columbus High School www.columbushs.com/page/support-cchs/memorial-fund. Good night sweet prince and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.