Former Lake County sheriff dies

Former Lake County Sheriff Pat Clavey was laid to rest Monday. Orville St. Peter “Pat” Clavey, 80, of Waukegan died Nov. 20 at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

Clavey served as the Lake County coroner and was the sheriff of Lake County from 1970 to 1974.

After his term as sheriff, Clavey was convicted income tax evasion and perjury and served time in prison.

Still, people stood in line for two hours Monday to express their condolences to his widow, Joan, and their two children.

“He was a wonderful father and he would be there for anybody,” Joan Clavey said. “We’re going to really feel a big loss. The people of Lake County showed up today. It was just overwhelming support of a man who tried to do his job.”

On Monday, friends and loved ones remembered Pat as a giving person who loved to read his Bible each morning and night and liked to use toothpicks to build elaborate objects such as planes or boats and ducks.

“Everybody saw a different side of Pat today as being a wonderful Christian,” Joan said. “I think he deserved a lot of credit. He touched a lot of hearts with his benefit golf outings and fundraisers to help kids earn scholarships.”

Clavey served in the Air Force during the Korean War and was a member of the Gurnee American Legion Post 771 and the Zion-Benton Moose Lodge 1027.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years; one daughter, Jean (David) Hengesh of Gurnee; a son, George Clavey of Waukegan; and three grandchildren, Christina Clavey and Daniel and Kimberly Hengesh; several nieces and nephews; and two sisters, Alyce (Joseph) Beemsterboer of Grayslake and Geraldine (Gerald) Wicks of Wadsworth.

He was proceeded in death by one son, Glen, and his parents, Harry and Marion Clavey.

Visitation was Sunday at Gurnee Community Church, where Clavey was a member. Interment with military honors was at Warren Cemetery in Gurnee.