Army Veteran of WWll
A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve -is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life.
Alvin Edward Bak
Born December 5, 1917
Died January 14, 2008
Son of Hattie (Wiatr) and Henry Bak
If you had the opportunity to visit the Bak residence in Streamwood, you would find a small bookshelf located upstairs. There are a handful of books on that shelf. One of them is “The Greatest Generation.” It’s a fitting book, as it would describe Al in three words. He was the type of man who did his job and rarely complained about it.
Alvin grew up the third child in a small house on Chicago’s northwest side, the son of Hattie and Henry Bak. His older brother, Paul died in 1925 due to illness, his younger brother, Henry named after their father, died 31 years ago. His father died in 1954 and, after he married, he lived near his mother and brother to help care for her until her death in 1968 and then his brother Henry.
In 1940, Alvin like so many other men and women went oversea to fight for his country. He served in Canada, England and the Philippines over the course of 5 years. He was trained as an auto mechanic and used his skills over the course of his life. Every vehicle he owned was never for less then 10 years. There was a 1957 Buick in the family for 16 years that was handed down to his eldest son and used until we could no longer buy parts for the car.
After the war, Alvin returned to civilian duty still in the automotive field. He first worked at a parts counter, filling orders for the mechanics at Consolidated Freight, a Chicago trucking company along side his brother, Henry. Alvin worked his way up through the company and eventually was appointed warehouse manager at the South Holland branch of Freightliner, the company the that acquired his first employer.
He met his wife Geraldine on a Chicago bus after the war while commuting to work. They married in June of 1950 and had two sons Donald and Thomas to whom he passed on many of his skills and values. He took his family on many long vacations traveling across the country to see the natural wonders of our country exposing them to over one-half of the states in this country.
In 1978, Alvin retired from the corporate world and couldn’t sit at home and fully enjoy retirement. He worked part time at his first real job: Parts counter. After a short time, Al finally decided that he understood the idea of retirement and quit working all together; working for money that is. He found it hard to sit still and was frequently on hikes and bike trips in Illinois and Wisconsin, driving on vacations to enjoy the country that he defended over 40 years ago. Alvin also helped his family and friends and often asked for something to do. He spent many days at his son’s homes doing small and large projects for them. His morning routines would include a visit to the local McDonald’s or Country Donut. Alvin was still riding his bike until his early 80s and driving weeks before his stroke in October. Alvin believed in helping others through blood donations and gave 14.6 Gallons of blood during his retirement.
In recent years, Al mastered the mysterious world of the Internet and emails.
Alvin would rarely talk about his service in the war, except about the locations or the cold weather. His house was always easy to find on the quiet block in Streamwood. It was the one flying the American flag, before it was a popular display of patriotism.
Alvin was healthy and thin all of his life, but in October he suffered a major stroke and was paralyzed except for his left arm and unable to speak and swallow. His sons managed his care after the stroke and kept him and his wife together when he needed nursing care. He would recognize his family and friends when they visited him, but they greatly missed him not being able to speak to them during their visits. Saturday night he was admitted to NW Community Hospital with pneumonia and died on Monday at 10:20 AM. Alvin is survived by his wife Geraldine, sons Donald and Thomas and five grandchildren.
About Alvin and Geraldine
Feb/2008 (per his son) "Our father had a stroke in October and was left paralyzed and unable to speak or eat. Two weeks later my mom was admitted to the hospital with intestinal blockage and was there for 3 ½ weeks. My mother has had problems with short-term memory for years and was unable to return home. She was discharged to the same nursing home where my father's stayed and was in the same room with him for two months. My brother and I felt that she could not return home and we looked for a residence for both of them. Our father needed skilled nursing and she required a reminiscence ward.
We never spoke to my father since his stroke and communication with him was very sketchy. He remained the same for about 90 days and then he contracted pneumonia and died a day and half later."
Obituary
Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL) - January 16, 2008
Alvin Bak of Streamwood
Services for Alvin Bak, 90, will begin with prayers at 10:15 a.m. Thursday, at Countryside Funeral Home, 1640 Greenmeadows Blvd. (at Barrington Road), Streamwood/Schaumburg, proceeding to St. John the Evangelist Church, for a Mass at 11 a.m. Following services, cremation will be private at the Countryside Crematory. Visitation is 4 to 8 p.m. today, at the funeral home. Born Dec. 6, 1917, in Chicago, he died Monday, Jan. 14, 2008, in Arlington Heights.
Mr. Bak was an Army veteran of World War II. He enjoyed watching the Cubs. Alvin was the husband of Geraldine (nee Mertzen) for 57 years; father of Donald (Judy) Bak of Streamwood and Thomas (Janice) Bak of Johnsburg; grandfather of Gregory, Troy, Alana, Alexander and Jonathan; and brother of the late Henry Bak. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Disabled American Veterans
A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve -is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life.
Alvin Edward Bak
Born December 5, 1917
Died January 14, 2008
Son of Hattie (Wiatr) and Henry Bak
If you had the opportunity to visit the Bak residence in Streamwood, you would find a small bookshelf located upstairs. There are a handful of books on that shelf. One of them is “The Greatest Generation.” It’s a fitting book, as it would describe Al in three words. He was the type of man who did his job and rarely complained about it.
Alvin grew up the third child in a small house on Chicago’s northwest side, the son of Hattie and Henry Bak. His older brother, Paul died in 1925 due to illness, his younger brother, Henry named after their father, died 31 years ago. His father died in 1954 and, after he married, he lived near his mother and brother to help care for her until her death in 1968 and then his brother Henry.
In 1940, Alvin like so many other men and women went oversea to fight for his country. He served in Canada, England and the Philippines over the course of 5 years. He was trained as an auto mechanic and used his skills over the course of his life. Every vehicle he owned was never for less then 10 years. There was a 1957 Buick in the family for 16 years that was handed down to his eldest son and used until we could no longer buy parts for the car.
After the war, Alvin returned to civilian duty still in the automotive field. He first worked at a parts counter, filling orders for the mechanics at Consolidated Freight, a Chicago trucking company along side his brother, Henry. Alvin worked his way up through the company and eventually was appointed warehouse manager at the South Holland branch of Freightliner, the company the that acquired his first employer.
He met his wife Geraldine on a Chicago bus after the war while commuting to work. They married in June of 1950 and had two sons Donald and Thomas to whom he passed on many of his skills and values. He took his family on many long vacations traveling across the country to see the natural wonders of our country exposing them to over one-half of the states in this country.
In 1978, Alvin retired from the corporate world and couldn’t sit at home and fully enjoy retirement. He worked part time at his first real job: Parts counter. After a short time, Al finally decided that he understood the idea of retirement and quit working all together; working for money that is. He found it hard to sit still and was frequently on hikes and bike trips in Illinois and Wisconsin, driving on vacations to enjoy the country that he defended over 40 years ago. Alvin also helped his family and friends and often asked for something to do. He spent many days at his son’s homes doing small and large projects for them. His morning routines would include a visit to the local McDonald’s or Country Donut. Alvin was still riding his bike until his early 80s and driving weeks before his stroke in October. Alvin believed in helping others through blood donations and gave 14.6 Gallons of blood during his retirement.
In recent years, Al mastered the mysterious world of the Internet and emails.
Alvin would rarely talk about his service in the war, except about the locations or the cold weather. His house was always easy to find on the quiet block in Streamwood. It was the one flying the American flag, before it was a popular display of patriotism.
Alvin was healthy and thin all of his life, but in October he suffered a major stroke and was paralyzed except for his left arm and unable to speak and swallow. His sons managed his care after the stroke and kept him and his wife together when he needed nursing care. He would recognize his family and friends when they visited him, but they greatly missed him not being able to speak to them during their visits. Saturday night he was admitted to NW Community Hospital with pneumonia and died on Monday at 10:20 AM. Alvin is survived by his wife Geraldine, sons Donald and Thomas and five grandchildren.
About Alvin and Geraldine
Feb/2008 (per his son) "Our father had a stroke in October and was left paralyzed and unable to speak or eat. Two weeks later my mom was admitted to the hospital with intestinal blockage and was there for 3 ½ weeks. My mother has had problems with short-term memory for years and was unable to return home. She was discharged to the same nursing home where my father's stayed and was in the same room with him for two months. My brother and I felt that she could not return home and we looked for a residence for both of them. Our father needed skilled nursing and she required a reminiscence ward.
We never spoke to my father since his stroke and communication with him was very sketchy. He remained the same for about 90 days and then he contracted pneumonia and died a day and half later."
Obituary
Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL) - January 16, 2008
Alvin Bak of Streamwood
Services for Alvin Bak, 90, will begin with prayers at 10:15 a.m. Thursday, at Countryside Funeral Home, 1640 Greenmeadows Blvd. (at Barrington Road), Streamwood/Schaumburg, proceeding to St. John the Evangelist Church, for a Mass at 11 a.m. Following services, cremation will be private at the Countryside Crematory. Visitation is 4 to 8 p.m. today, at the funeral home. Born Dec. 6, 1917, in Chicago, he died Monday, Jan. 14, 2008, in Arlington Heights.
Mr. Bak was an Army veteran of World War II. He enjoyed watching the Cubs. Alvin was the husband of Geraldine (nee Mertzen) for 57 years; father of Donald (Judy) Bak of Streamwood and Thomas (Janice) Bak of Johnsburg; grandfather of Gregory, Troy, Alana, Alexander and Jonathan; and brother of the late Henry Bak. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Disabled American Veterans
Army Veteran of WWll
A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve -is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life.
Alvin Edward Bak
Born December 5, 1917
Died January 14, 2008
Son of Hattie (Wiatr) and Henry Bak
If you had the opportunity to visit the Bak residence in Streamwood, you would find a small bookshelf located upstairs. There are a handful of books on that shelf. One of them is “The Greatest Generation.” It’s a fitting book, as it would describe Al in three words. He was the type of man who did his job and rarely complained about it.
Alvin grew up the third child in a small house on Chicago’s northwest side, the son of Hattie and Henry Bak. His older brother, Paul died in 1925 due to illness, his younger brother, Henry named after their father, died 31 years ago. His father died in 1954 and, after he married, he lived near his mother and brother to help care for her until her death in 1968 and then his brother Henry.
In 1940, Alvin like so many other men and women went oversea to fight for his country. He served in Canada, England and the Philippines over the course of 5 years. He was trained as an auto mechanic and used his skills over the course of his life. Every vehicle he owned was never for less then 10 years. There was a 1957 Buick in the family for 16 years that was handed down to his eldest son and used until we could no longer buy parts for the car.
After the war, Alvin returned to civilian duty still in the automotive field. He first worked at a parts counter, filling orders for the mechanics at Consolidated Freight, a Chicago trucking company along side his brother, Henry. Alvin worked his way up through the company and eventually was appointed warehouse manager at the South Holland branch of Freightliner, the company the that acquired his first employer.
He met his wife Geraldine on a Chicago bus after the war while commuting to work. They married in June of 1950 and had two sons Donald and Thomas to whom he passed on many of his skills and values. He took his family on many long vacations traveling across the country to see the natural wonders of our country exposing them to over one-half of the states in this country.
In 1978, Alvin retired from the corporate world and couldn’t sit at home and fully enjoy retirement. He worked part time at his first real job: Parts counter. After a short time, Al finally decided that he understood the idea of retirement and quit working all together; working for money that is. He found it hard to sit still and was frequently on hikes and bike trips in Illinois and Wisconsin, driving on vacations to enjoy the country that he defended over 40 years ago. Alvin also helped his family and friends and often asked for something to do. He spent many days at his son’s homes doing small and large projects for them. His morning routines would include a visit to the local McDonald’s or Country Donut. Alvin was still riding his bike until his early 80s and driving weeks before his stroke in October. Alvin believed in helping others through blood donations and gave 14.6 Gallons of blood during his retirement.
In recent years, Al mastered the mysterious world of the Internet and emails.
Alvin would rarely talk about his service in the war, except about the locations or the cold weather. His house was always easy to find on the quiet block in Streamwood. It was the one flying the American flag, before it was a popular display of patriotism.
Alvin was healthy and thin all of his life, but in October he suffered a major stroke and was paralyzed except for his left arm and unable to speak and swallow. His sons managed his care after the stroke and kept him and his wife together when he needed nursing care. He would recognize his family and friends when they visited him, but they greatly missed him not being able to speak to them during their visits. Saturday night he was admitted to NW Community Hospital with pneumonia and died on Monday at 10:20 AM. Alvin is survived by his wife Geraldine, sons Donald and Thomas and five grandchildren.
About Alvin and Geraldine
Feb/2008 (per his son) "Our father had a stroke in October and was left paralyzed and unable to speak or eat. Two weeks later my mom was admitted to the hospital with intestinal blockage and was there for 3 ½ weeks. My mother has had problems with short-term memory for years and was unable to return home. She was discharged to the same nursing home where my father's stayed and was in the same room with him for two months. My brother and I felt that she could not return home and we looked for a residence for both of them. Our father needed skilled nursing and she required a reminiscence ward.
We never spoke to my father since his stroke and communication with him was very sketchy. He remained the same for about 90 days and then he contracted pneumonia and died a day and half later."
Obituary
Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL) - January 16, 2008
Alvin Bak of Streamwood
Services for Alvin Bak, 90, will begin with prayers at 10:15 a.m. Thursday, at Countryside Funeral Home, 1640 Greenmeadows Blvd. (at Barrington Road), Streamwood/Schaumburg, proceeding to St. John the Evangelist Church, for a Mass at 11 a.m. Following services, cremation will be private at the Countryside Crematory. Visitation is 4 to 8 p.m. today, at the funeral home. Born Dec. 6, 1917, in Chicago, he died Monday, Jan. 14, 2008, in Arlington Heights.
Mr. Bak was an Army veteran of World War II. He enjoyed watching the Cubs. Alvin was the husband of Geraldine (nee Mertzen) for 57 years; father of Donald (Judy) Bak of Streamwood and Thomas (Janice) Bak of Johnsburg; grandfather of Gregory, Troy, Alana, Alexander and Jonathan; and brother of the late Henry Bak. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Disabled American Veterans
A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve -is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life.
Alvin Edward Bak
Born December 5, 1917
Died January 14, 2008
Son of Hattie (Wiatr) and Henry Bak
If you had the opportunity to visit the Bak residence in Streamwood, you would find a small bookshelf located upstairs. There are a handful of books on that shelf. One of them is “The Greatest Generation.” It’s a fitting book, as it would describe Al in three words. He was the type of man who did his job and rarely complained about it.
Alvin grew up the third child in a small house on Chicago’s northwest side, the son of Hattie and Henry Bak. His older brother, Paul died in 1925 due to illness, his younger brother, Henry named after their father, died 31 years ago. His father died in 1954 and, after he married, he lived near his mother and brother to help care for her until her death in 1968 and then his brother Henry.
In 1940, Alvin like so many other men and women went oversea to fight for his country. He served in Canada, England and the Philippines over the course of 5 years. He was trained as an auto mechanic and used his skills over the course of his life. Every vehicle he owned was never for less then 10 years. There was a 1957 Buick in the family for 16 years that was handed down to his eldest son and used until we could no longer buy parts for the car.
After the war, Alvin returned to civilian duty still in the automotive field. He first worked at a parts counter, filling orders for the mechanics at Consolidated Freight, a Chicago trucking company along side his brother, Henry. Alvin worked his way up through the company and eventually was appointed warehouse manager at the South Holland branch of Freightliner, the company the that acquired his first employer.
He met his wife Geraldine on a Chicago bus after the war while commuting to work. They married in June of 1950 and had two sons Donald and Thomas to whom he passed on many of his skills and values. He took his family on many long vacations traveling across the country to see the natural wonders of our country exposing them to over one-half of the states in this country.
In 1978, Alvin retired from the corporate world and couldn’t sit at home and fully enjoy retirement. He worked part time at his first real job: Parts counter. After a short time, Al finally decided that he understood the idea of retirement and quit working all together; working for money that is. He found it hard to sit still and was frequently on hikes and bike trips in Illinois and Wisconsin, driving on vacations to enjoy the country that he defended over 40 years ago. Alvin also helped his family and friends and often asked for something to do. He spent many days at his son’s homes doing small and large projects for them. His morning routines would include a visit to the local McDonald’s or Country Donut. Alvin was still riding his bike until his early 80s and driving weeks before his stroke in October. Alvin believed in helping others through blood donations and gave 14.6 Gallons of blood during his retirement.
In recent years, Al mastered the mysterious world of the Internet and emails.
Alvin would rarely talk about his service in the war, except about the locations or the cold weather. His house was always easy to find on the quiet block in Streamwood. It was the one flying the American flag, before it was a popular display of patriotism.
Alvin was healthy and thin all of his life, but in October he suffered a major stroke and was paralyzed except for his left arm and unable to speak and swallow. His sons managed his care after the stroke and kept him and his wife together when he needed nursing care. He would recognize his family and friends when they visited him, but they greatly missed him not being able to speak to them during their visits. Saturday night he was admitted to NW Community Hospital with pneumonia and died on Monday at 10:20 AM. Alvin is survived by his wife Geraldine, sons Donald and Thomas and five grandchildren.
About Alvin and Geraldine
Feb/2008 (per his son) "Our father had a stroke in October and was left paralyzed and unable to speak or eat. Two weeks later my mom was admitted to the hospital with intestinal blockage and was there for 3 ½ weeks. My mother has had problems with short-term memory for years and was unable to return home. She was discharged to the same nursing home where my father's stayed and was in the same room with him for two months. My brother and I felt that she could not return home and we looked for a residence for both of them. Our father needed skilled nursing and she required a reminiscence ward.
We never spoke to my father since his stroke and communication with him was very sketchy. He remained the same for about 90 days and then he contracted pneumonia and died a day and half later."
Obituary
Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL) - January 16, 2008
Alvin Bak of Streamwood
Services for Alvin Bak, 90, will begin with prayers at 10:15 a.m. Thursday, at Countryside Funeral Home, 1640 Greenmeadows Blvd. (at Barrington Road), Streamwood/Schaumburg, proceeding to St. John the Evangelist Church, for a Mass at 11 a.m. Following services, cremation will be private at the Countryside Crematory. Visitation is 4 to 8 p.m. today, at the funeral home. Born Dec. 6, 1917, in Chicago, he died Monday, Jan. 14, 2008, in Arlington Heights.
Mr. Bak was an Army veteran of World War II. He enjoyed watching the Cubs. Alvin was the husband of Geraldine (nee Mertzen) for 57 years; father of Donald (Judy) Bak of Streamwood and Thomas (Janice) Bak of Johnsburg; grandfather of Gregory, Troy, Alana, Alexander and Jonathan; and brother of the late Henry Bak. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Disabled American Veterans
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