Vladimir “Laddie” Vanek, age 92, Army Korean War Veteran, of LaGrange Park. Beloved husband of Lorraine Vanek, nee Fortino; loving father Valerie Schoenberg, Victoria (Patrick) McManus and Leane (the late Ronald) Jones; devoted grandfather Gabriela Schoenberg, Kylie McManus, Fiona McManus, Hilary Jones and Richard Jones; brother of the late Miroslav (Camille) Vanek; uncle and great uncle of many. Laddie was a past board member and advocated for several community organizations including but not limited to Rotary, Lions Club, Pioneers, Proviso Township, Sokol, Senior Handyman Program and many of their subsidiaries.
Visitation Friday, May 19, 2023 from 3:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. and Saturday, May 20, 2023 from 10:30 A.M. to time of Service 11 A.M at Hitzeman Funeral Home Ltd. 9445 W. 31st St., Brookfield, IL 60513.
Interment Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside.
Information 708-485-2000 or www.HitzemanFuneral.com
For those of you that would like to express your condolences to the family, please click on the link below and you can leave the family a message. If you wish to send a Sympathy Card to the Family, please feel free to send it to Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 West 31st Street, Brookfield, IL 60513, c/o the Vladimir Vanek Family. We will gladly forward it on to the family.
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We are so sorry to hear of Laddys passing. Laddy was such a wonderful man and neighbor and a complete joy to talk to. He was a great story teller. Being the original owner of his home. He told us a lot of history of the neighborhood. We often described him as a really cool old guy and so fun. We will truly miss him. Prayers and sincerest Condolences to his family. RIP LADDY, it was a privilege to have known you
Laddie was larger than life and his laughter warmed a room. It was my pleasure to have known him. His passing leaves a great void in the lives of so many. Sending love, hugs, and prayers to all those who loved him!
He was a kibitzer meaning kidder in Yiddish one of my best friends.his family was 1st and utmost in his life.we lost a good person and
all of us will miss him.God bless..
Laddy was a great friend, neighbor and loving father. He never forgot the song I wrote and played on the bus for a Sokol trip. He always had a smile on his face.
Our thoughts and prayers to the Vanek Family. Many fond memories of such a nice person! RIP my friend!
Val, Vicky and Leanne,
So sorry to hear about your dad.
I am so very sorry to hear about Laddy. So many memories thru the years. I’m sure Richie and he are already fishing and catching up. My love to the family.
Where so sorry to hear about Laddie. His call will be missed. Prayers are with family
My wife Kathy and I send our sincere sympathies to the Lad Vanek family. In many ways our lives paralleled; Born into Czech families the same time (I am one year older), both of us entered the US Army during the Korean War. Both of us served in the 101st Airborne(“Screaming Eagles”) devision at camp Breckenridge Kentucky. Lad was a good solider. When the war was over we both were honorably discharged and went back to civilian life to raise our families an improve our communities and to honor our Czech heritage. Some years ago we rediscovered each other and kept in touch. We both retired with similar health problems. I could count on Sargent Vanek calling… on the fourth of July and every patriotic day on the calendar. We used those talks to brush up on our Czech language. s Bohem,Lad. “Old soldiers never die…they just fade away.”
My deepest sympathies to the Vanek family.
Laddie was and always will be a great guy.
Nazdar,
Jim Hantak
I’ wish to extend my deepest of sympathy to all of the family of Vladimir “Laddie “ Vanek. please accept my condolences on your lost. We were life long friends in Sokol.
My deepest sympathies to the Vanek family.
Ladicku budes v mojim srdci cely zivot !
Ahoj z laskou Mila
My depest sympathies to the Vanek family.
My sincere condolences to the immediate family and close family and the sokol family as well.. I know all the Vaneks from sokol Brookfield… My parents were members and friends with the Vaneks.. I have memories of his laugh and happy personality it was so infectious.. Such a happy man and I never saw him mad or upset.. Only good memories from all the sokol events. Those will last my lifetime… Nazdar!
My deepest sympathies in the loss of laddie he was a pleasure to care for during his exercise program and will always be remembered as compassionate loving and funny
Rest in peace laddie it was a blessing and honor to have crossed paths with you
May your hearts heal with the loving memories you shared with him