Stefan Herold, age 90, beloved husband, father and Opa was born in Weprowatz, Yugoslavia on Sept. 2, 1926 and was received into God's beautiful kingdom on Feb. 13, 2017. Stefan, his wife Lilli and two children Harry and Veronika immigrated to the United States by ship from Zirndorf, West Germany on Dec. 7, 1957 and made their home in Forest Park, IL. They formerly resided in Oak Park, River Forest, Elmhurst and moved to Lemont in 1998 where they resided currently. Stefan was a construction worker in Germany and after moving to the United States was employed with Oak Park-River Forest High School as a custodian and retired after 30 years of service in June 1987. He was known by his many co-workers as Poppa #1 and received a jacket upon retirement and wore it proudly as Poppa #1. He was a lover of all animals - not only his many cats and dogs throughout his lifetime but his many grand puppies and grand kitties. It wasn't unusual to see him feeding and caring for his many outdoor "pets" as well. The hobbies he loved were woodworking, building things, fixing things, stamp collecting, having garage sales, going to lunch, traveling and going on adventures, going on drives, decorating for the holidays, the Polish deli, spending time at his camper home in Yorkville in the warmer months with his family, the outdoors and working in his beloved yard. Most of all, he loved his family. He and his wife were married on Feb. 14, 1948 and would have celebrated 69 years of marriage. The highlight for him was witnessing the marriages of his two grandchildren last year in June and Oct. They were the love of his life, loved spending time with them and they meant the world to him. The day his grandson, Scott Jr. got married he presented him with an heirloom silver pocket watch that was handed down from his grandfather to his father to him and finally to his grandson. This watch was promised to Stefan by his father upon his return as prisoner of war in WWII. He was predeceased by his beloved son Harry of Forest Park, IL, parents Georg & Eva Herold, brother Adam (Eva) Herold, sisters Katharina (Adam) Oppermann, Magdalena (Michael) Oppermann and Maria (Gunther) Witek, all of Germany. Stefan is survived by his wife Lilli (nee Schadek) of Lemont, IL, daughter Veronika (Scott) McAdam of Lemont, IL, grandchildren Amanda McAdam (Jason) Brown of Palos Hills, IL, Scott, Jr. (Brittany) McAdam of Orland Park, IL, Jamie Herold of Knoxville, TN, Stefan Herold of Chicago, IL, grand puppy Nala and grand kitties June and Autumn. Visitation 3 to 9 p.m. Friday February 24 at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home, 203 S. Marion St., Oak Park where services will be held on Saturday at 10 a.m. Interment Forest Home Cemetery, Forest Park, IL. In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Heart Association (heart.org), P.A.W.S. Chicago (pawschicago.org) or Best Friends Utah (utah.bestfriends.org) are appreciated.
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Previous Events
Visitation
24
Feb
203 South Marion Street
Oak Park, IL 60302
Funeral Service
25
Feb
203 South Marion Street
Oak Park, IL 60302
Cemetery Details
Location
863 Des Plaines Ave
Forest Park, IL 60130
American Heart Association/American Stroke Association
3816 Paysphere Circle
Chicago, IL 60674