Bidding farewell to those from the Northwest suburbs we lost in 2019

As we look forward with optimism for the year ahead, it's fitting that we also look back, with no shortage of sadness, at those we lost in 2019.

It was a year in which we lost prominent politicians, clerics and businessmen. They range from a lifelong Arlington Heights resident and last in a family of veterans who organized the Memorial Day parade, to a Korean immigrant who quietly played a key role in the space program, to a Schaumburg woman who started a community theater group that highlighted Black History Month.

Here's a look at some of the notable suburban deaths of 2019:

Dolores Haugh

Jan. 10: Mount Prospect's first public information officer, executive director of the Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce, president of the Mount Prospect Historical Society, she started many events enjoyed by residents today, such as the farmers market and the Teddy Bear Walk. "She was on the ground floor of a lot organizations in the community," said her daughter, Cheryl Haugh. She died at 95.

Mark Dahlem

Feb. 4: The Cary resident, youth football and baseball coach and Palatine police officer died at 48 of glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive form of brain cancer. "Mark dedicated his life to helping others and making a difference," said Kim, Dahlem's wife of 22 years. "He chose a field that involved situations that others would run from and endured exchanges far from pleasant."

Brother Dale Barth

Feb. 21: While he never taught a class at St. Viator High School, many graduates remember him as their favorite teacher - of life lessons. Barth directed the maintenance staff from 1967 to 1990. "His office was a great place to hang out," said Alan Baumgartner, a retired sergeant with the Arlington Heights Police Department, who worked for Barth as a student and remembers Barth's penchant for cowboy boots and Johnny Cash music. "He was just there for you." He was 75.

Ken Brady

Feb. 23: Brady served 14 years on the Wheeling village board, 17 years on the plan commission, was involved with the Wheeling Garden Club and supported Wheeling Helping Hands, which raised funds for Wheeling police and fire department charities. "He was a great example of somebody who was involved in the community," village President Pat Horcher said. "He was an example for everybody." He died at 77 after a fall.

Rev. Leroy Kennel

Feb. 14: When a dairy farm on Roselle Road in Schaumburg went up for sale around 2000, his Mennonite congregation purchased the property and converted its large barn into a church. He became known as the pastor who built a church in a barn. He died after a long illness at age 88. "As Mennonites, we feel we have a responsibility for creation and protecting our environment," said his wife, Pauline. "Leroy felt very strongly that we should recycle and reuse this old barn."

Jill Morgenthaler

Feb. 23: Among the first women to enter Army boot camp, the Mount Prospect resident retired as an Army colonel after more than three decades of active and reserve duty. "A true patriot, she was a leader and decorated officer who knocked down barriers in the military and motivated a generation of women through her service and her inspirational speeches," said U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a fellow Iraq War Army veteran. She was 64.

Leo Kinsch

Feb. 24: One of five siblings who worked alongside their parents in the business his dad bought in 1938 when he was a teenager, he helped to build it into Kinsch Village Florist & Garden Center in Palatine, which his children now run. "He was very involved in the community, and was especially supportive of local businesses," said his son, Ken Kinsch. He was 94.

Michael Schoepke

March 5: He grew up with the Daily Herald, cutting his teeth on the old typesetting machines and ultimately helping convert its production to a modern, computerized system. Schoepke started as a teenager, following in the footsteps of his father, William Schoepke, and his three uncles, Art, Butch and Richard. He retired in 2014 as director of computer operations. He was 68.

Wallace Luettschwager

March 6: A lifelong Arlington Heights resident and last in a family of veterans, he had organized the Arlington Heights Memorial Day parade for decades. "Wally and his brothers really built the patriotic heart of Arlington Heights," said Greg Padovani, chairman of the Veterans' Memorial Committee in Arlington Heights. He was 90.

John Rowe

March 14: The last principal of Arlington High School, which closed 35 years ago, died at age 92. "It was everything to him. It was what he devoted 34 years to," said his son, Tom Rowe.

Russell Attis

March 16: Attis spent 34 years coaching and teaching at Arlington High School, was Illinois Athletic Director of the Year in 1978 and an official at the boys state track meet for 24 years. "What I will remember most is Russ's enthusiasm - it was contagious," said Bob Baker, who taught with him. "He would do anything for the rest of the fellows he taught with, as well as the kids. He really had the kids' interest at heart." He was 95.

Don Totten

April 2: The former Illinois state senator, Cook County Republican Party chairman, Schaumburg Township Republican committeeman and Midwest director of Ronald Reagan's 1976 and 1980 campaigns died at the age of 86. "He thought there was a right way and wrong way for things to be done. ... Some Republicans will blow with the wind, but (late U.S. Rep. Phil) Crane, Reagan and Totten (would) not," said Ed Murnane, who worked with him.

Rick Drazner

April 5: A Buffalo Grove Park District Commissioner, dedicated community volunteer, member of Rotary, Chamber of Commerce and Congregation Beth Judea, he worked as an attorney and public adjuster. "His love for the community was unparalleled," said Buffalo Grove Park District Board President Scott Jacobson. "He was very proud of the accomplishments of his daughter and son in their young careers." He was 58.

Jennifer Zorn-Sargent

April 12: A beloved English teacher at Wheeling High School, she died at 44 after a long battle with cancer, just three days after she last reported to school. "Jen was a true warrior," said Timothy Piatek, chairman of the English and fine arts division at Wheeling. "She wanted to continue to work and be there for her students each and every day."

Rev. John P. Smyth

April 16: After choosing the priesthood over a chance to play in the NBA, he served as the longtime and, at times, controversial leader of Maryville Academy in Des Plaines and later as president of Notre Dame College Prep in Niles. He died at age 84. "He was a builder and a visionary and a great catalyst for raising money for Maryville, the Standing Tall Foundation and Notre Dame College Prep," said Patrick McCaskey, a Chicago Bears board member and team vice president.

Don Warren

May 19: He founded the Rosemont Cavaliers and helped guide the drum and bugle corps to more than 20 national titles and seven world championships with Drum Corps International. A former resident of Wood Dale, he died in Arizona at age 90. He conceived the corps in 1948 as an activity for Boy Scout Troop 111 in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood. "It was basically a way to keep the boys off the street," says former member Dan Currier. "They wore their Scout uniforms and played bugles."

Robert Parker Coffin

June 13: He served more than 20 years as village president and has one of the town's main thoroughfares named in his honor. He moved to Long Grove after World War II and opened an architectural office. He joined with others to block a development, and instead require three-acre minimum lot sizes and promote open space to preserve the area's rural character. "When you think about Long Grove's rural character that's lasted 63 years, it's all because of our founding fathers," village President Bill Jacob said. "It's what makes us unique." He died at age 101.

James Baloun

Aug. 24: He served two terms on the village board and also led the Palatine Rural Fire Protection District. In the 1970s, Baloun worked with Inverness officials to annex his neighborhood and the surrounding parcels, extending the village boundaries west by taking in lots north of Palatine Road and west of Ela Road. Baloun, a CPA, ran Baloun and Co., with his brother Donald. He was 70.

Paul Dietzen

Aug. 24: A Wauconda Fire District trustee and member of the Cuba Township board, he died at 59 after he'd been diagnosed with kidney cancer. Cuba Township Supervisor Mike Kainz said he "brought a deep understanding of the local political and environmental challenges" to the board. "To me, he embodied the meaning of civic duty."

Mike Lattof

Sept. 2: He appeared in numerous theatrical productions with "Clearbrook on Cue" and was described as outgoing, friendly and uplifting to all he met. He died at 61 after a long illness. "Clearbrook was such a gift to Mike and our family," said his mother, Charlotte Lattof, who served on the board of Clearbrook and whose husband, Warren, was president of Lattof Chevrolet, an Arlington Heights business started by grandfather Nicholas Lattof. Mike lived in Clearbrook group homes in Palatine, Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates, mostly with the same housemates. "They became his second family," brother Allen Lattof said.

John Marienthal

Sept. 21: The longest-serving trustee in the history of Buffalo Grove (1975-2002), he lent his financial expertise during a time of exponential growth. He was 73. "Whenever there were controversial decisions, he always had the best interest in mind," said Sidney Mathias, who served alongside Marienthal. "John was a populist," said former Trustee Jeffrey Berman. "He strived to be the voice of the residents whenever issues arose."

Paul Chung

Sept. 22: A brilliant engineer who helped lay the groundwork for the first manned space orbit, and ultimately the moon landing, the Arlington Heights resident who immigrated from Korea when he was 18 was known as a talented painter, musician and active member of Orchard Evangelical Church. His work for NASA would lead to the development of the thermal protection systems built into each rocket. "He was very proud to be American, and he wanted to do everything he could to help the country achieve its dreams," said his daughter, Tamara Michicich of Chicago. He was 89.

Judson Bergman and Mary Miller-Bergman

Oct. 3: The Chicago couple who loved to spend time in their second home near Cuba Marsh perished in a San Francisco crash that police say involved an impaired driver going the wrong way on the expressway. Bergman was a co-founder and CEO of Envestnet Inc. Miller-Bergman founded Hanover Hill Wealth Advisors. But they loved getting away from the city for gardening, birds and restoring their land's native grasses. Bergman was 62, and Miller-Bergman was 57.

Louis Barone

Oct. 23: Three-term village president of Hanover Park from 1973 to 1985 also founded the Hanover Park Food Pantry and served as a deacon at St. Ansgar Roman Catholic Church in Hanover Park from 1987 to 2002. He was 92. "Lou was a friend to all he met, a genuine caring person," Village President Rod Craig said. "As village president, he made his mark by instituting the manager form of government, which professionalized the way we do business."

Robert Heller

Nov. 6: He was known in the Northwest suburbs for the 64-year-old lumber business in Arlington Heights that bears his family's name. Commonly known as Bob, he owned and operated Heller Lumber until retiring in 1995 and counted many customers as his friends, said granddaughter Jane Garb, now president of the company. He died at 89.

Andrew Whowell

Dec. 1: He spent 30 years with the Arlington Heights' police force, including service as a patrol officer, detective, sergeant and patrol commander, before his 2013 promotion to deputy chief. He was 62. "If you had a bad day or were involved in a tough case or just dealt with someone who experienced a tragedy, he was the first one who would be there to reassure you that you were going to get through it," said longtime colleague Nicholas Pecora, now the department's chief.

James T. Ryan

Dec. 6: The former Arlington Heights mayor helped shape redevelopment of the village's downtown in the 1970s and 1980s. After serving as mayor from 1975 to 1989, he was an elected Cook County judge from 1996 to 2004. He was 85. Carol Ryan, his wife of 45 years, described him as a "driving force" behind developments, from helping bring Lake Michigan water to town to assisting Arlington International Racecourse in securing a tax break to reopen after fire destroyed the grandstand in 1985.

John "Al" Mergens

Dec. 7: He helped lead the Elk Grove Village Fire Department from a volunteer force into a full-time, professional agency with multiple stations, as the first chief of a group of 40 volunteer firefighters, who worked out of a barn. He was 84. "He just always met his commitments," said his son Jim Mergens of Lake Zurich.

Valerie Profit

Dec. 15: She was a 38-year Schaumburg resident who won the village's Volunteer of the Year award in 2008 for founding the local theater company Powerhouse Productions. She also was an employment coordinator for Schaumburg, Palatine and Wheeling townships, helping many - especially seniors - find jobs. "She was really dedicated to that," former Schaumburg Township Supervisor Mary Wroblewski said. She died at the age of 69.