Obituary: Walter 'Wally' Horak

BOLINGBROOK, IL — Walter “Wally” Horak, 78, passed away on April 15, 2019 in Mishawaka, Indiana after many medical complications.

Born September 28, 1940 in Sadow, Poland, he was a son of the late Franciszek & Stanislawa “Stella” (Szkuratowska) Horak. He follows in death by his late wife Annette Horak, who passed away in December 2018. Also, he follows in death of his former wife Judith (Ficht) Gutke.

He is survived by Daughter Kim Snyders of Springfield, Illinois; Son Christopher F. Horak of Aurora, Illinois; Samantha Butler of Florida, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Brother Richard Horak, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was a brother to the late Hank Horak and Jozef Horak.

Wally was born in Poland and had a hard journey to America during and after the war in Europe, with his family finally arriving in 1952. Wally served in the Army, training in Fort Knox, Tennessee driving Army Tanks. He also served overseas in Germany. He lived in Chicago, moved to Bolingbrook, IL in 1972 and became a Bolingbrook firefighter in 1975. He retired after 20 years in 1995. After retiring he moved to Niles, Michigan to live at a lake home. He enjoyed fishing and doing stain glass as a hobby.

Private services will take place at a later date.

The Bolingbrook Fire Fighters Association IAFF Local 3005 is looking to remember charter member Horak. Horak served as a firefighter for the village from December 1975 to April 1995. He also served on the executive board as the Local 3005's sergeant-at-arms and shift steward for several years.