Mundelein artist, musician dies at 81

Sculptor.

Gardener.

Musician.

Any of these titles can be used to describe Mundelein resident Frank "Bud" Furch. Many more certainly apply.

Sailor.

Veteran.

Husband.

Father.

"He did it all," said his wife, Rosemary T. Aitken.

Furch, 81, died Thursday of lung cancer.

Born and raised in the Chicago area, Furch served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, mostly stateside, and then in the U.S. Naval Reserve.

He loved boating and competed in Chicago-area races and a transatlantic race that went from Rhode Island to Bermuda and Spain.

He met his future wife during that competition, she recalled.

"Everybody wanted him on their boat," Aitken said. "He sailed with the best of them."

Furch gained renown for his sculpture and other artistic works, which can be seen at Northwestern University's Evanston campus and at the University of Wisconsin in Green Bay. His pieces also are in several private and corporate collections.

But his artistic endeavors were not limited to visual creations.

Furch was a bassist who performed in Chicago jazz clubs in the 1950s and 1960s. He also loved gardening and the environment and worked to protect area lakes and shorelines.

"He was original," Aitken said. "He had a poet's soul and an architect's mind. And the blend was beautiful."

In addition to his wife, survivors include his son, John P. Furch, and a sister, Joan F. Smith.

Visitation is scheduled to run from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, at Burnett-Dane Funeral Home, 120 W. Park Ave., Libertyville. A service is set for 7 that night, at the funeral home.

An environmentally themed memorial fund is planned.