Hampshire man remembered for faith, community service
Robert Kudlicki, Hampshire’s former village president and a two-term Kane County Board member, was laid to rest Monday, two days before what would have been his 84th birthday.
Kudlicki, a devout Catholic, died last Monday after a brief illness. His service at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church attracted more than 60 people.
“If my dad were here today, he would be humbled by the presence of everyone in here, because he was someone who never sought the limelight,” said his eldest son, Bob Kudlicki Jr.
Kudlicki lived a full life, mostly outside of the limelight.
He served two stints in the Marines just after World War II and during the Korean War — in the latter war, he made maps for covert missions. Kudlicki was honorably discharged both times and on Monday, the master sergeant was buried with full military honors at St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery.
Kudlicki and Theresa, his wife of 59 years, also opened a dry cleaning business in 1959 and a menswear store in town 10 years later — both are still in business today.
During his political career, Kudlicki was a member of the village’s zoning board before he was elected to two terms as Hampshire’s village president starting in 1976. The Republican was later elected to the Kane County Board in 2002 and served the 25th District for eight years.
But on Monday, the Rev. Sylvester Nnaso shined a light on Kudlicki’s work in the community.
The Kudlicki home is across the street from the church and Kudlicki regularly performed various readings during services, Nnaso said.
“He was such a person who loved to serve others,” he said. “And he continued to do that until he was unable to do so.”
Besides the church, Kudlicki was active in the Hampshire Lions Club, where he was charter member and past president, in the Elgin Marine Corps League Detachment, where he was also past commander, in American Legion Post 680 in Hampshire where he was past commander and with Boy Scout Troop 22, where he was treasurer for more than 35 years.
Kudlicki was also a man who took his faith very seriously, passed it onto his two sons and believed in life after death, Nnaso said.
Nnaso acknowledged Monday was a sad day, but reminded the congregation that there are reasons to be happy for Kudlicki.
“Not only are we celebrating his entrance into heaven, we are celebrating a life well lived in this community,” Nnaso said.