Family Invites Community to Remember Treasured Businessman Al Kosnar

ORLAND PARK, IL — Friends and family of a beloved longtime Orland Park businessman will gather Friday to honor his memory.

Al Kosnar, founder of Kosnar Liquors, died March 9 at 80 years old. He was known for his jovial, warm nature and reliability during his days doing business in town.

For 52 years, the Kosnar family operated businesses in Orland Park, starting with a pharmacy called Kosnar Drugs, when the village was mostly spread-out farmland. The pharmacy first stood in what is now the antiques district, and later moved to Orland Plaza. In 1959, a liquor license was added. Within a few years, the pharmacy had moved into its own space. The two businesses ran side by side for 35 years.

Dad loved the people and the town of Orland Park, and he loved being your pharmacist. He knew every personal detail of every person that came into his store; no matter what time of the day or night, he never turned away a soul-in-need;

Find out more about what made the Kosnar family's businesses special.

In a touching eulogy to be shared during a memorial service, Al's son Matt shared more about his father, including how Al and his wife met.

The magic started in the store.

"Even our mom, Ramona, worked there while she was still in high school over at Sandburg," Matt wrote. "Once Ramona was old enough, the boss made his move. I don’t know any man who wooed a woman with more effort than Al wooed my mom, Ramona."

Their courtship included late nights and early mornings, Matt wrote. Al's days started with "opening the drug store in Orland Park at 9 am; working a 12-hr day until closing-up at 9 pm; finish locking up at 10; drive to Ramona’s apartment in Chicago at 11; dinner in Chicago until 1 am; cocktails and dancing until 4; drop her off at 6; drive back to Orland Park by 8; just in time to open the store again at 9 am. Then do it again and again and again…"

The two later married and together had three sons: Matthew, Paul, and Douglas. Their family includes six grandchildren. See the full obituary below.

Kosnar will be remembered during a service Friday, June 24 at 3 p.m., at Christ Lutheran Church 14700 S. 94th Ave. in Orland Park.

Full Obituary

Albert “Al” Theodore Kosnar, 80, of Orland Park died Mar. 9, 2016. He was born to the late Albert and Jennie Kosnar, Jul. 21,1935, in Chicago. Al grew up on S Talman Ave, where the family lived above his father’s bakery. After graduating from McHenry High School and Purdue University’s College of Pharmacy, he moved to Orland Park, IL, in 1959 and opened his first business, Kosnar Drugs, becoming the town’s first independent pharmacist and a successful businessman. When this town needed medicine in the 1950s and 60s, they called Kosnar Drugs. Over the next 52 years, he operated businesses and cared for the people of Orland Park, never turning away a soul-in-need. Beloved husband of the late Ramona nee Gaynor; loving father of Matthew (Peta), Paul (Evonne), and Douglas (Katherine) Kosnar; dear grandfather of Erica, Morgan, Isabel, Jackson, Jefferson, and Henry Kosnar; devoted brother of Lillian Hofferica and the late Mary Kosnar; devoted brother-in-law of the late John Hofferica; also nieces and nephews. Memorial Service will be held at 3 pm Friday, 24 Jun. at Christ Lutheran Church 14700 S 94th Ave, Orland Park. (708) 349-0431.