DuPage coroner stepping down; retired surgeon seeks post

DuPage County Coroner Peter Siekmann is ready to call it a career.

The longtime county employee who first was elected coroner in 2004 says he's going to retire next November.

In the meantime, Siekmann is going to help run the campaign of a retired surgeon from Wheaton who hopes to replace him.

“It's a very bittersweet time,” Siekmann said on Monday. “I'm going to miss all the people I work with. I am going to miss the job. There's no question about it.

“But I guess you get to that point in reality where it's maybe time to step back while things are going well.”

The 58-year-old West Chicago resident says he wants to spend more time with his wife and has “a lot of things that I want to do in retirement mode.”

Siekmann's remarks came hours after Dr. Richard Jorgensen filed nominating petitions to seek the coroner seat in the Republican primary. Jorgensen is a retired surgeon who practiced for 20 years at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield.

“I feel that I can use the skills that I have of being a trauma surgeon and practicing physician in the office of coroner,” Jorgensen said.

Siekmann said he was in trying to decide whether to run for re-election when he was contacted by Jorgensen.

“He told me that if I were to run, he would not run,” Siekmann said.

Since becoming a full-time employee at the coroner's office in October 1976, Siekmann says he's loved his career. But he's come to a realization that it's time to move on.

“I thought, ‘You know, it is time,'” said Siekmann, who went on to quote Walter Payton when he added, “Tomorrow isn't promised to anyone.”

Siekmann said he supports Jorgensen and is the doctor's campaign manager. He already told his staff about his retirement plans.

“We talked things over here,” Siekmann said. “We expect the office to stay pretty much as it is. We have good feelings of things to come.”