Wally Lebbin

Wally Lebbin died peacefully in his home in Schaumburg, where he and his wife Kathleen raised their family, on March 14th, 2025.
Wally was born on July 28th, 1936 in Chicago, IL. The son of Walter and Dorothy (Tragus) Lebbin, he grew up on the North side of the city, where he graduated from Amundsen High School, and then went on to Wright Jr. College. He started in the culinary world shortly after, where he worked across the city, including at the Whitehall Club. He found his true passion when he assumed a teaching role in the culinary program at Washburne Trade School. After receiving his Master's in Education from Governor's State while continuing to work, he moved into the role of Culinary Department Head. After over 3 decades at Washburne, he consulted for the City Colleges and did some catering with his wife Kathleen. He also became a driving member of Washburne's Alumni Association. He and Kathleen were a founding family of the Church of the Holy Spirit, where he actively volunteered for decades by ushering, cooking at the Church Carnival, counting weekly donations, coaching and playing on softball and volleyball teams, coordinating activities for the "39ers," supporting funeral luncheons, and even renewed his vows with Kathleen in the church. He was always engaged in YMCA activities with his daughters, where he served as Indian Princesses' Medicine Man and then Chief, and a State Lead for Y US Girls. He was a proud member of Alcoholics Anonymous for nearly 41 years, where he was a sponsor to many and volunteered multiple times each week to speak to those struggling with addictions, until his body forced a slow-down. He was such a proud husband, Dad, and Papa that loved his family vacations and cross-country road trips (especially station wagon drives to Disney, where he sent dozens of culinary students), and never missed his daughters' and grandsons' sporting events, theatrical performances, art shows, school events, camp-outs, daily letter writing to his daughters, or any volunteer efforts needing support.
Wally is survived by his wife of over 55 years Kathleen; daughter Kathy (Little) and her husband Erick and their boys Kolin, Gavan, and Chase; daughter Kelly (Mack) and her husband Rob and their boys Bobby and Ryan; son Bill (Marilyn) and their son Bill (Pooja) and grandson Roshan; his sisters Carol (Dave) Brantner and Diane (Brad) Harrigan; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Wally was preceded in death by his parents Walter and Dorothy, his brother Kenny, and his sister Pat (Bill) Lutsch.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either St. Jude’s, Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, or Wounded Warrior Project.