A final farewell
A funeral with military honors was held Jan. 15 for Army Pfc. William Robert "Will" Newgard, 19, of Arlington Heights. A 2005 Hersey High School graduate, he was killed Dec. 29, 2006 from a roadside bomb in Baghdad.
Army Staff Sgt. Paul LaTourney, 28, of Roselle, killed March 2 in Baghdad when an IED detonated near his patrol vehicle. A 1997 Lake Park High School graduate.
Donald E. Stephens, 79, Rosemont's "larger than life" mayor, and the only president the village had from its inception in 1956 to his death on April 18.
Sidney Port, 96, of Chicago; died June 11. Founded Des Plaines-based Lawson Products; he gave millions to the Lyric Opera, Little City Foundation, museums, hospitals, temples and universities.
Longtime congressman Henry Hyde, 83, died Nov. 29; his 32 years in Congress were highlighted by unbending opposition to abortion and a key role in impeachment proceedings against President Bill Clinton.
William Wirtz, 77, died Sept. 26. President of the Blackhawks from 1966 until his death Sept. 26; inherited the Hawks and Chicago Stadium after his father, Arthur, died.
Thomas G. Lyons, 75; the Cook County Democratic chairman since 1990; died Jan. 13.
Roger W. Johnson, 61, Alexian Brothers Medical Center president and CEO, died March 5; worked for ABMC more than 30 years. Oversaw restructuring of the medical center campus as part of a network-wide $400 million expansion.
Albert A. Robin, prolific developer who helped bring Roosevelt University to the Northwest suburbs, died March 9 at 95.
Kimberly Mark Schmidt, 57, of Arlington Heights. Renowned pianist who performed solo from Orchestra Hall in Chicago to the Carnegie Recital Hall in New York; a sought-after accompanist and arranger. Died Aug. 10.
Arthur L. Janura, 87, of Inverness; died Aug. 24. From 1964 to 1991 was general superintendent of the Cook County Forest Preserve District, where he worked for 45 years.
Allan Hamilton, 69 of Huntley. Died May 3. Commercial developer who founded the Itasca-based commercial development firm Hamilton Partners in 1987; company developed 22 industrial parks, 26 office complexes and five shopping centers in the Chicago suburbs, from Joliet to Vernon Hills.
Longtime Chicago TV news anchor John Drury, 80, of Wheaton, died Nov. 26. Came to Chicago in 1962 at WBBM-TV, where he reported and co-anchored alongside Fahey Flynn. From 1967-2002 he moved between WGN-TV and WLS-TV, winning four Chicago Emmys; in 1996 was inducted into the Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame.