Mass of Christian Burial for Albert J. “Pete” Kristan, 95, is Tuesday September 28th at 10 AM at Santa Maria Del Popolo Church “Big Church” (116 N. Lake St, Mundelein). Interment will follow at Ascension Cemetery, Libertyville.
Visitation is Monday September 27th from 1-8 PM at Kristan Funeral Home, 219 W Maple Ave (2 blocks west of Route 45, on Route 176) Mundelein.
Pete passed away peacefully at home on September 20, 2021 in Mundelein with family at his side.
He was born November 13, 1925 to Leo and Regina (nee Strauss). Pete grew up on the grounds of Ascension Cemetery where his father, Leo, was the gravedigger. He attended Libertyville Township High School from 1941-1944 and lettered in basketball, track and field, and football, including being a member of LTHS’s 1944 undefeated Football Season.
Pete was drafted into the United States Army during his senior year and was deployed in the fall of 1944 to the European Theater. Pete graduated from Libertyville Township High School while on guard duty in Belgium. He participated in the Ardennes and Rhineland Campaigns, which included the Battle of the Bulge. Pete was also a member of the Army of Occupation and was honorably discharged on May 12, 1946 at the rank of Corporal (TEC 5).
Pete returned home and graduated from the Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science in 1948. In 1948, he married the love of his life, Elizabeth “Bette” Lawrence. Together, they had seven children and became synonymous with family, love, and Mundelein.
Pete worked for Tobin’s Funeral Home in Waukegan before opening Burnett-Kristan Funeral home in 1954. This eventually became Kristan Funeral Home in 1969. The original Funeral Home was located 533 N lake St in Mundelein where he and Bette laid the foundations for coming generations.
When not serving the families of Mundelein as a mortician, Pete could be found driving for Kristan Ambulance Service, volunteering for the Mundelein Fire Department, or coaching for numerous youth sports teams.
He was a member of Santa Maria Del Popolo Parish since 1954 where he was a pillar of 7:30 AM Mass for over 50 years, including being an usher, member of the Knights of Columbus, and the Santa Maria Father’s Club.
Despite numerous commitments and a large family, Pete was also a constant at a multitude of organizations such as, the Mundelein Lions Club, the Mundelein American Legion Post #867 (where Pete was a member for 68 years), the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Mundelein Jaycees, the Mundelein Men’s Garden Club (Unofficial Title - The Mundelein Men’s Poker Club), the Mundelein Businessmen Association, the Illinois Funeral Directors Association, the Northeastern Illinois Funeral Directors Association and Wednesday Morning “Liar’s Coffee” at McDonalds.
Pete was a Little League coach for over 20 years and was a fixture at countless baseball games, basketball games, golf matches, concerts, volleyball games, regattas, and football games for his 10 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren. Pete even attained the honorary position of “The Owner” for the Kenosha Indians Baseball Club.
Besides living for his family and serving the community, Pete loved golfing, going to Casinos, and passionately cheering on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Pete is survived by his 6 children Susan (Michael) McNeil, Peter (Steve Kern) Kristan, Brian (Katie) Kristan, Kevin (Bonnie Rae) Kristan, Mary Kay (Doug) Merkau, and Patricia Kristan. His 10 Grandchildren Christopher McNeil, Jennifer (Thomas) Callahan, Paul (Bernadette) McNeil, Amie (James) Queensland, Erin (Jim) Tamkin, Brad (Blanca Guzman) Kristan, Betsy (Jimmy) Williams, Daniel (Becca) Merkau, Elizabeth (Sean) Heinz, and Ian (Jolyssa O’Fallon) Kristan. His 23 Great Grandchildren Riley, Owen, and Grady McNeil; Tyler and Caitlin Callahan; Lucas, Landon, Abrielle, and Evangeline McNeil; Evan, Reese, and Grant Queensland; Tre and Jolie Tamkin; Raelynne, Dawson, and Brooks Williams; Logan, Henry, and Theodore Merkau; and Charlotte and Colton Heinz. And Pete’s 2 canine companions – Maggie and Hobbs.
Pete was preceded in death by his loving wife Elizabeth “Bette” Kristan, his son Paul Tony, and his siblings Marie (Fritz) Johnson, Robert (Lillian) Kristan, William (Emilia) Kristan, Paul L. Kristan, Helen (Milton) Brumm, and Elvira Kristan.
In lieu of flowers and in memory of Pete, please direct all donations to Special Olympics of Illinois. For more information and online donations please visit support.specialolympics.org.
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