Friends recall judge of 'great compassion'

Judges don't usually buy their jurors ice cream but, then again, James F. Quetsch wasn't your average judge.

"He was a man of towering intellect and integrity, and great compassion," recalled Jacqueline Weltmer, who was Quetsch's court reporter for nearly 20 years. "He had a very personal way of relating to people."

Quetsch, a former Kane County judge and Illinois Appellate Court justice known for his good nature and legal precision, died Wednesday at 75. He was surrounded by family in his Geneva home.

Born in Oak Park, Quetsch began his legal career in Chicago in 1959 after graduating Kent Law School and, before that, Notre Dame University in South Bend, Ind.

He was a successful trial lawyer at private practices in Geneva and Wheaton before becoming partner at Corrigan, MacKay, Quetsch and O'Reilly and, in 1975, an associate judge in the 16th Judicial Circuit. In 1976, he was elected to a full judgeship - a position he kept for 16 years until he was appointed to the state appellate court in 1992.

Kane County State's Attorney John Barsanti said he prosecuted several cases before Quetsch and found him to be a "no-nonsense guy who really moved the caseload along. I really enjoyed trying cases in front of him."

Weltmer said Quetsch had a knack for putting people at ease, whether he was handling civil or felony matters, big and small.

Among her favorite memories is the time Quetsch sneaked over to the Swedish Days festival near the old courthouse in Geneva to pick up ice cream for a jury that was hard at work deliberating. She said he also took a great interest in the lives of those who came before him, remembering details and showing concern.

"They were so touched that he would be so sensitive to their situation," Weltmer said.

For a time, Quetsch moved more cases through the court system than all of the other judges in the circuit combined, Weltmer said.

While friendly and good humored, he also spoke up when he thought plaintiffs or defendants had good legal representation - or when a case "should be settled and not continued for the economic benefit of the attorneys."

"The people who practiced in front of him were on their best game," Weltmer said.

Quetsch's daughter, Martha Quetsch of Geneva, recalled how her father sang Christmas carols each year at a holiday event in the courthouse rotunda. She said he also loved the outdoors.

"He would take all of us children on nature walks, and he could name nearly every bird and tree he saw and would tell us what they were," she said.

For a full obituary, see Page xxxx