Daily Herald's Glen Ellyn columnist dies

Kimberly Buck liked to be known as the one with the answers to questions about Glen Ellyn.

She was upbeat and up-to-date on what was happening in schools, clubs and churches as part of her role as the Daily Herald's Glen Ellyn community columnist.

"She loved writing her column and would still have been doing it now if she hadn't lost her sight," said her mother, Beth Wood. "She loved talking to people and finding out their story. Everyone's life was interesting to her."

Born Feb. 19, 1961 in Hinsdale, she worked as a nurse manager for the pediatric unit at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago. A resident of Glen Ellyn for more than 20 years, Buck recently moved to Geneva, where she died Thursday.

She was the Glen Ellyn columnist for the Daily Herald for more than six years and had a lifelong hobby collecting dolls and dollhouses.

Family and friends knew her as a devoted Chicago Cubs fan, avid reader, writer and craft show enthusiast. She had a love for life and enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.

Buck was so social, her mother speculated that she would be upset about missing her own funeral.

"It will be huge with people flying from all over the country," Wood said.

Buck battled chronic illnesses and repeatedly beat the odds. Her aunt, Judith Hanley, donated a kidney to for her niece in 1992.

She is survived by her son, Corey Barenbrugge; parents Beth Wood and Jerry Buck; brother Jerry Jr. (Lisa); and sister Callie (John) Momtazee; nieces and nephews Rachel, Alexandria, Jerry, Samantha, Julia and John; and aunts Judith (Dan) Hanley and Carol (Tom) Hilbert.

Visitation is 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Leonard Memorial Home, 565 Duane St., Glen Ellyn.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 393 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn.

Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery in Glen Ellyn.

Buck regularly participated in the Ron Santo Walk for Juvenile Diabetes and volunteered as a nurse for the Juvenile Diabetes summer camp for kids.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 500 N. Dearborn St., Suite 305, Chicago, IL 60610 are being taken.