Former Rolling Meadows mayor Couve dies at 84
Former Rolling Meadows Mayor Carl Couve died this week at age 84, but family and friends are expressing gratitude for the three extra years they had with him after he rallied from the leukemia that ultimately claimed him.
During those three years, he not only his celebrated his 60th wedding anniversary but also continued the travels he loved, including to Niagara Falls, his wife Barbara said.
After earlier service on Rolling Meadows' plan commission and building and zoning board, Couve was an alderman for a decade before serving one term as mayor from 1991 to 1995.
His wife said becoming mayor had never been a burning ambition of his, but was something he was persuaded would be in the best interest of the community.
"I think he was just encouraged by other people who thought he would serve the city well," Barbara Couve said. "He thought long and hard about it."
Nevertheless, Couve enjoyed his time as mayor and was grateful for the city council and city manager he had. They would call on different businesses every Tuesday to see how Rolling Meadows' economy was faring.
"These men were really dedicated to serving their community," Barbara said.
Couve majored in art at Grinnell College in Iowa before becoming a graphic artist, working first as art director at Mosstype in Elk Grove Village before starting his own business with his wife, BC Lettering.
While Couve was in charge of all the artistic elements, Barbara worked the computerized typesetting. She laughs at the memory of all the people who asked her how a husband and wife could manage to work together.
"He was so easygoing and such a patient man," she said of her husband of 62 years.
Couve was active with the Rolling Meadows Chamber of Commerce, serving a year as president just before current executive director Linda Liles Ballantine came aboard about 33 years ago. She said she became a good friend to the entire family.
But Couve decided not to run again for mayor after one term because professional retirement was beckoning and he wanted to spend time in Florida. He and Barbara ultimately bought a condo in St. Petersburg where they lived during the winter but still maintained their primary residence in Rolling Meadows. It was at a hospital in St. Petersburg that he died Monday. Survivors include his three daughters, several grandchildren and three siblings.
His youngest daughter, Lori, has autism and lives in a Clearbrook group home in Hoffman Estates but has inherited her father's artistic gifts, Barbara said.
Ballantine said more than motherly pride is behind that opinion; Lori can almost photographically recreate people, pets and places she's seen minutes or months later. Her work is frequently in juried art shows and no one could guess it was produced by someone otherwise not able to live independently, Ballantine said.
Couve's visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 13, at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights.
Visitation also will be at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, 1234 N. Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights from 11 a.m. Monday, March 14, until the funeral service at noon. Interment is at Memory Gardens Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial may be given to Clearbrook, Our Saviour's Lutheran Church or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Funeral information and condolences can be given at GlueckertFH.com or (847) 253-0168.