In memory of a Mundelein stalwart

Ray Bauernsmith passed away on Sunday, Oct. 18, and I wanted to tell of my brief experience with this man.

When I was putting together information on my book "Mundelein" in 2009, one of the people I interviewed was Ray. I had been going around town with these black and white pictures trying to find out who was in them, the year they were taken, etc. One of the pictures was of this 19-year-old kid leaning on a truck that read on its side "Ray's Auto Service." So I walked into Ray's shop where I met his son Jim and asked if I could talk to his father for a little while.

Pretty soon Ray came shuffling out from the back of the shop and sat down with me. He was the nicest man and made it real easy for me to interview him. Of course, as soon as I asked him to tell me his story, there was no stopping him, but I really enjoyed hearing about his life in Mundelein.

His story goes that he was the son of Frank Bauernsmith, the village's superintendent of public works. Ray actually started his auto service company in his father's garage behind their house on Hawley Street in 1947. Later in 1954, he moved his shop to its own building down the street where it still exists today run by his son.

Ray Bauernsmith lived his whole live as a Mundelein resident and thus became a part of the village's history. Thank you, Ray, for the service you gave to Mundelein, and, for me personally, thank you for being so kind to me on that day we talked.

Shawn Killackey

Mundelein