Christopher Francis Promenschenkel

1933 - 2023

Christopher Francis Promenschenkel
Born: January 31, 1933 in Streator, IL.
Died: May 21, 2023 in Streator, IL.
Christopher Francis Promenschenkel, 90, of Streator passed away Sunday, May 21, 2023 at his residence after battling cancer.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, May 27th at St. Michael the Archangel Church, Streator.
Visitation will be from 4-7 P.M. Friday at the Solon-Telford Funeral Home, Streator. The rosary will be recited at 6:45 P.M.
Burial will be in St. Stephen's Cemetery, Streator. Pallbearers will be his son-in-law Robert Jost; grandsons, Austin Promenschenkel and Sean Jost, and nephews Butch Leskanich, Mark Leskanich, and Ron Frye.
Born January 31, 1933 in Streator, he was the only son of Peter and Mary (Saflarski) Promenschenkel.
He attended Heenanville Grade School and graduated from Streator High School in 1950. After high school, he attended Bright's School of Floral Design in Chicago and started working at Hart's Floral. He was drafted into the Army on his 20th birthday. After his 2 years of required service at Fort Lewis, Washington, he returned home to continue his job at Hart's. In 1960, with his high school friend, Dan Salata, they started DanChris Nursery. He worked there and Hart's Floral simultaneously. In 1967, he sold his interest in DanChris nursery and purchased the Hart's floral business. He outgrew those facilities and purchased the former Medical Arts facility in WestGate Plaza in 1972 and started Chris's Flower Shop. He later sold that business and then started Flowers Plus in downtown Streator in 1982. He ran that business until 1990, when he sold it to his employee, Colleen Simons. He continued to work there until his retirement in 2014.
He married Arlene Leskanich on June 30, 1962 at St. Stephen's Church. They had three children, Lori Promenschenkel of Brighton, Colorado, Eric (Kerri) Promenschenkel of Downers Grove and Lisa (Robert) Jost of Wheaton; 6 grandchildren, Austin Promenschenkel of Brighton, Colorado, McKenna Uhing of Brighton, Colorado; and Sean, Bethany, Alaina, and Alex Jost of Wheaton.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Mary Kay Dunning of Streator, Rose Frye of Seneca, Shirley "Suzanne" Berg of Streator and Kathy Renn of Las Vegas, Nevada; and his son, Eric Promenschenkel who passed away February 6, 2018.
He is survived by his wife; daughters; daughter-in-law Kerri Promenschenkel of Downers Grove, IL; his grandchildren; two sisters, Carol Lahman of Kangley and Theresa (Larry) Yednock of Streator; and many nieces and nephews.
He was a member of the former St. Stephen's Church and currently belonged to St. Michael the Archangel Parish. He was a member of the 3rd degree of the Knights of Columbus for 70 years, the Streator Elks Club, the American Legion, and the Polish National Alliance. During his years as a florist, he did design shows in the floral industry in Alabama, Iowa, and at Illinois Conventions.
His hobbies included golf, crafting, traveling, and raising flowers and vegetables in an array of gardens. He and his wife, Arlene, of 60 years spent their winters in Florida enjoying the weather, golf, and many friends. He enjoyed his family and many friends over the years. The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to OSF Hospice and Linda Dunning for caring for him in his final weeks.
Memorials may be directed to St. Jude's Hospital and the St. Vincent DePaul Society.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.solontelford.com