Harry F. Kotecki

Harry F. Kotecki was born in La Salle Illinois on July 28th, 1924 and passed away on November 30th, 2023 at his home in Schaumburg. He was the son of Francis T. and Mary C. (Hybki) Kotecki. After graduating with honors from high school, Harry served in the Army during WWII from June 1943 to March 1946. He spent the first years of his service working in Dayton Ohio, then went to Europe in the fall of 1945. After returning to La Salle, he worked for the Rock Island Railroad and the Lehigh Cement Company. He attended La Salle-Peru-Oglesby Junior College in La Salle, the University of Chicago, and finished his electrical engineering degree at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. He was employed as a communications engineer by Motorola in Chicago and Schaumburg for 38 years, until he retired In 1989. His job took him to many places in the U.S. and abroad.

Harry married Myra E. Wohrer on Sept. 4, 1949, in Graham Taylor Chapel at the University of Chicago after meeting her at a Valentine's Day dance at her dorm earlier that year. Harry and Myra raised their five children in Glen Ellyn, in a house they built. They lived there for over thirty years before moving to a condominium in Schaumburg. Harry and Myra enjoyed attending plays and concerts in Chicago, visited all 50 states and took a trip to Europe together. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Sept. 4, 1999.

Harry was a real gentleman and a man of honor and duty. He was steadfast, with a strong sense of right and wrong and desire to do the right thing. The way he provided for his family set an example for all. Harry played the trombone with the DuPage Symphony Orchestra for over thirty years, and volunteered for many jobs with the orchestra, including service on the board of directors. He was elected to the Queen Bee Elementary School District 16 Board for two terms during the 1960's. Harry helped one son renovate and build a large addition on his house in Maryland. He served as Treasurer of all the political election campaigns of another son, and walked for countless hours delivering literature door to door to about 5,000 homes in most of them. Harry assisted Myra with the care of her aging parents and sister until their deaths. He also collected stamps and coins, enjoyed gardening, games and puzzles, and compiled genealogies for both his and Myra's families.

Harry was the devoted father of five, loving grandfather of 11, and was beloved by his 10 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, a granddaughter, a great-grandson, and his three siblings.

A memorial service for Harry will be held on Saturday, February 3rd at 11:00 am at St. John United Church of Christ, 1475 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. Interment will be in Randhill Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, we invite you to we invite you to make a donation in Harry's name to the DuPage Symphony orchestra at https://www.dupagesymphony.org/donate/ or DuPage Symphony PO Box 844, Naperville, IL 60540.