Charles Edward Samec Ph.D., age 80, of Carol Stream and a former 37 year resident of Oak Park passed away on March 31, 2017 at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield. Dr. Samec was born in Berwyn, IL to Henry J. and Stella (nee Janovsky) Samec. He was a graduate of Morton High School (now known as Morton East High School), attended Morton Jr. College and graduated from Wheaton College with a Bachelor in Liberal Arts. He attended Northern Illinois Baptist Theological Seminary and received his Masters of Divinity. He also attended Loyola University in Chicago where he received his Master’s Degree and then a PhD in Education and History. His thesis for his PhD was titled “A History of the Amherst Project: Revising the Teaching of American History 1959 -1972” He married his high school sweetheart Carolyn Childs on May 27, 1961. He was ordained as a Baptist Minister at Oak Park Avenue Baptist Church. In 1965 he began teaching at Morton West High School. Charles and Carolyn were blessed with the birth of their daughter Robin in 1965 and later their son Michael in 1968. Over the years he taught at various universities including DePaul University, Wheaton College, Loyola University, Morton College, Triton College and College of DuPage. He participated in a National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Institute for teachers conducted in 1992 at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Samec utilized the Chicago Historical Society’s gracious hospitality and resources to complete his contribution to the final work which was published in 1993. His contribution was titled “The History of Cicero Township: Cartographic Perspective”. Dr. Samec retired in 1999 to pursue his many hobbies and spend time with family and friends, something he especially enjoyed. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 56 years Carolyn, and his children: Robin (Steven) Christensen and Michael (Anna) Samec. He is also survived by his brother Bob (Rosemary) Samec, and many nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews. Visitation is 3 to 9 p.m. on Friday April 7, at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home, 203 S. Marion St., Oak Park. Interment is private. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday April 8 at 2 p.m. at The First Baptist Church of Oak Park, 820 Ontario St., Oak Park. In lieu of flowers, please support the Salvation Army, or the First Baptist Church of Oak Park, or a no kill shelter for animals.
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Previous Events
Visitation
7
Apr
203 South Marion Street
Oak Park, IL 60302
Memorial Service
8
Apr
820 Ontario Street
Oak Park, IL 60302