Joseph Kromelis Obituary

Greetings, I have been a street performer in Chicago since 1995. I performed sleight of hand magic, and balloon artistry up until the Covid pandemic. I primarily worked the Magnificent Mile. I seen many times, and I honestly thought that Joseph, was a plain clothes police officer. I also lived at the Lawson House YMCA, which made performing on Michigan Ave, so easy! I was saddened to hear what happened to Joseph! I still am somehow convinced, that Joseph was a "plain-clothes" police officer, and who knows how many crimes he may have inadvertently thwarted, just by his angelic presence among us!
Many thanks my friend Joseph!

He was a fixture in the Goldcoast
Always had a sport coat on
Never bothered anyone .. god bless him ..Rip

I would see him downtown almost everyday while I was driving my bus route. I always thought he looked like Sam Elliot...with hair and mustache. He stood out in a crowd. I was sadden when I heard the story on the news...RIP..

You were a familiar part of the Chicago Loop´s landscape! Rest In Peace.

Joe and I grew up together. When we were kids around 14 years old we used to go to the lake everyday in the summer with a group of guys and girls. We would swim off the rocks near "The Planetarium". Joe's sister Erika and I graduated 8th grade together at "Providence Of God" grammar school. Many many times I would run into Joe while he was walking down town areas. Rest in peace my Lithuanian friend. God bless you and your family.

We knew him as "Centralia Cowboy" since the early 70s when he began walking Michigan Ave. in his youth. What a tragic, undeserved end to an otherwise carefree life.

As long as there is a Downtown Chicago, you will live on.
Take your rest Sir.

What a gentle soul and so very different than the norm when/where no one dared to be different, and while all aspired to march, or walk to their own drum, this man did just that! To have lived in that special, unique world that uniquely expressed itself through style and wardrobe, this man has uniquely become part of our own photo album, and part of our story. So, when we flip the pages of our story book, there he is standing out from the crowd in a big city that with his memory makes intimate, painful, but intimate nevertheless.
Ah, yes! Walk in peace Sir.

I never knew you, never saw you in person, but you still touched my life without even knowing. Walk on and RIP sir.

Walk in peace, Mr Kromelis. You were such a joyful presence in Chicago and adored by many.

This kind and gentle man will be missed. He was an Icon to those of us who live downtown. RIP

RIP and walk in peace

Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.