Funeral services set for Wheaton Marine

A Wheaton Marine who died last week in Afghanistan will be laid to rest Saturday.

Lance Cpl. Kevin E. Oratowski, 23, was killed on Aug. 18 by a roadside bomb in Helmand Province during his first combat deployment.

The 2005 Glenbard South High School graduate received numerous awards for his service.

Visitation for Oratowski will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday at Williams-Kampp Funeral Home, 430 E. Roosevelt Road, Wheaton.

Oratowski's funeral will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at Faith Lutheran Church, 41 N. Park Blvd., Glen Ellyn. He will be buried at Chapel Hill Gardens West Cemetery in Oakbrook Terrace.

Oratowski, who enlisted in the Marine Corps on June 23, 2008, was a light-armored vehicle crewman. He was conducting mounted combat operations against enemy forces when the roadside bomb blast occurred, military officials said.

Family and friends are remembering Oratowski as a "stand out, great guy" with a dynamic personality.

"I grew up in the same room as him and knew exactly who he was," Michael Oratowski, the Marine's younger brother, wrote in an e-mail. "He was driven by his competitiveness and he always wanted to be the best."

Michael Oratowski recalled tagging along whenever his big brother had friends over.

"I was the annoying little brother but he never complained about me being there," he said.

He said he will always cherish the memories of playing video games with his brother. "I will remember him for his will to be the best," Michael Oratowski said.

Dave Moore, who met Kevin Oratowski while they were elementary students at Arbor View School in Glen Ellyn, recalled his reaction to the news that his longtime friend had joined the Marines. He said he had "full faith" that Oratowski was able to complete what needed to be done.

"I didn't know his Marine life too well," Moore wrote in an e-mail, "but I am proud of him for serving and protecting all of us back home."

Added Chad Michael Williamson, another friend: "Kevin had a huge personality and is going to be missed."

In recent years, Wheaton has mourned the death of two other members of the armed forces from the city. Marine Lance Cpl. Nicholas Larson was killed during the U.S. assault on Fallujah, Iraq, in November 2004. Army Capt. Kevin C. Landeck died in Iraq in February 2007 when the Humvee he was riding in hit a roadside bomb.

Like those who fell before him, Moore said Oratowski will never be forgotten.

"My prayers and thoughts go out to his friends and family who I have gotten to know well in high school," Moore said. "Although we are all sad about what has happened, we should be very proud that Kevin put his life on the line for all of us and be thankful that we have people out there just how Kevin was."

• Daily Herald Staff Writer Christy Gutowski contributed to this report.