Longtime Wheeling Trustee Ken Brady dies

Wheeling village Trustee Ken Brady, who for decades helped shape the growth of the community and advocated for efforts to enhance its appearance, died Saturday at 77.

"He was a great example of somebody who was involved in the community," Village President Pat Horcher said Sunday.

Brady's daughter, Cheryl Brady-Restrepo, said her father was taken to Glenbrook Hospital in Glenview unresponsive after suffering a fall Saturday. He died later at the hospital.

Besides his 14 years on the village board, served 17 years village's plan commission, was involved with the Wheeling Garden Club and supported Wheeling Helping Hands, a not-for-profit volunteer organization dedicated to raising funds for Wheeling Police and Fire department charities.

"He was an example for everybody," Horcher said.

According to his biography on the village website, Brady was born in Chicago and graduated from Gordon Tech High School. He attended Washburn Trade School, specializing in carpentry and receiving his Journeyman's Certificate in 1965.

A Wheeling resident since 1967, Brady worked as a construction project manager prior to his retirement.

Before being elected village trustee in 2005, Brady served on the plan commission, including a stint as its chairman. As chairman, he helped implement beautification projects that added landscaping throughout the village and brick pavers to the narrow parkways along Milwaukee Avenue, and initiated the push to upgrade the village's comprehensive plan and zoning ordinances.

He said he sought public office to help the set the course for Wheeling's future and its "friendly, small town atmosphere."

In 2017, he told the Daily Herald that he drew on his experience as a carpenter and builder in his years on the plan commission and village board.

"I have seen the best and worst in building design, site layout, owners operations, that can make or break a business. I feel my experience has helped make a difference in the design and quality of buildings in our town," he said.

His civic involvement also included membership in the Knights of Columbus, for which he was a Grand Knight and a life membership in the Wheeling Historical Society.

Brady leaves behind his wife of 54 years, Christine, and daughters Kathy, Cyndi and Cheryl.

"He was a good man. He was always there for us," Brady-Restrepo said. "He loved Wheeling. He loved seeing it develop."

She recalled he father always helping the neighbors and said he was involved with his church, St. Joseph the Worker. With Wheeling Helping Hands, he helped with the organization's pig roast and golf outing.

She said her father had been retired for 15 years, but worked with Walter Daniels Construction. The company built several McDonald's restaurants in the Chicago area, including the one across from Wrigley Field that was recently razed.

Brady's death comes a short time after the passing in December of former Village President Judy Abruscato and longtime Plan Commission member Pam Dorband in November.

Funeral arrangements are pending.