Eugene Lazich

Eugene “Gene” Lazich, 95, of Wheeling, danced off this earthly stage on Tuesday, December 10, 2024. Visitation will take place on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, beginning at 11:00 a.m. at the Ahlgrim Family Funeral Services, 201 N. Northwest Highway, Palatine, Ill. with a Memorial Service to follow at 1:00 p.m.

Gene was born March 7, 1929, in Chicago, Illinois to the late Michael Lazich and the late Frances Klein Lazich. He and his parents lived in the Lincoln Park neighborhood in the City of Chicago, where his father worked as a civil engineer with the City Streets and Sanitation Department.

He was educated primarily in Chicago city schools and was a member of St. Josaphat Catholic Church. He graduated from Lane Tech High School and enjoyed dancing at every opportunity.

Gene had a love of the outdoors as an adult. After graduating, he worked for the Chicago Park District. In that capacity, he helped to plant the gingko trees along the drive leading to Adler Planetarium.

While working for the City, he met his late wife, Katherine (“Katy” or “Kay”) Schwarze, the daughter of the late Frederick Schwarze, Jr., and May Weber. They were married in November of 1951. Two years later, they gave birth to a son (Gary), followed by daughters Kathie and Laura in 1955 and 1961.

Gene and Kay moved to a Winston Park home in Palatine, a northwest suburb of Chicago, in 1962. They enjoyed entertaining and helped to coordinate a series of North Flake Drive block parties for Independence Day and Labor Day. They became founding members of St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic Church in Palatine, where Gene would later serve as Usher and Communion Minister

Gene worked for the Driveways Division of the City of Chicago Streets and Sanitation Department until his retirement. He also helped his father manage

After his father’s death in 1970, Gene became sole proprietor of St. Paul Billiards on West Fullerton Avenue, the establishment his grandfather had founded in the early 1900s. He enjoyed special recognition in the mid-1980s when Director Martin Scorsese included him and the billiard hall in a key scene of The Color of Money. He and Kay enjoyed meeting with Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and received branded production jackets in gratitude for their assistance.

Kay’s death in 2007 left Gene quite despondent. In response, his son Gary and Gary’s wife Cindy encouraged him to participate in a dancing club. During one session, he met widow Mary Margaret Matuga and discovered they danced well together. They married in 2013.

In addition to his parents and his wife Kay, Gene was preceded in death by his grandson, Jonathan Hain Lazich, youngest son of Gary and Cindy, in 1992.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Margaret of The Landing on Dundee in Wheeling, Ill.; Gary (Cindy) Lazich of Weaverville, N. C.; Kathie Bell (Jene) of Chippewa Falls, Wisc.; Laura Frances (“Kristin Daniels”) Lazich of Lake in the Hills, Ill; Joey Matuga of Palatine, Ill.; Susan (Luke) Wilberding of Naperville; and Mark (Amy) Matuga of Arlington Heights, Ill. He also leaves behind four grandchilden (Michael Lazich of Elyria, Ohio; David Lazich of Weaverville, N. C.; Sharon Marie Lazich of Kyiv, Ukraine; and Andy Bell of Fall Creek, Wisc.) and 7 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, Gene’s family would appreciate donations to a charity of your choosing in his honor.