Addison mourns longtime employee

When Les Kopecky and his wife, Joan, moved to Addison in 1963, he found more than just a new home.

Shortly after settling in Addison, Kopecky left his job with the Elmhurst Public Works Department and joined Addison's public works crew. Eventually, he became a firefighter when Addison's department was strictly volunteer.

"When the department started to go full-time, he went through the ranks and was a tremendous brother and firefighter," said Anthony LaRocca, former Addison village manager, firefighter and current president of the Addison fire board of trustees.

Kopecky served until 1988, when he retired as a lieutenant.

"He put in a good 20 years," said wife Joan Kopecky.

Even after his retirement, Les Kopecky served as a fire commissioner for several years, she added.

Kopecky died this week at age 81, and his family and longtime friends will honor the man who served his hometown for decades professionally, and volunteered his personal time for activities such as chaperoning his children's school band.

"He had a lot of friends and a good sense of humor," said Joan Kopecky.

Fire District flags will be flown at half-staff in his memory this week.

"It's a real sad time for all of us. Les was such a great guy, a happy man and a good man," LaRocca said.

When Kopecky wasn't at work in Addison or helping out in the community, he and his wife loved to dance. The couple was just shy of their 50th anniversary, which would have been May 7.

"He could jitterbug well and that's what caught my eye," said Joan Kopecky. "We also square danced for quite a while and dancing was always big on our agenda."

Visitation for Les Kopecky will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, at Humes Funeral Home, 320 W. Lake St., Addison. On Friday, Jan. 29, he will lie in state from 10 to 11 a.m. at Addison Presbyterian Church, Army Trail and Mill roads, followed by an 11 a.m. funeral service at the church. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery on Wolf Road in Northlake.