Loretta Kahn Obituary

Kahn, Loretta Annabell (nee Wieczorek) 85, a lifelong resident of Evanston, passed away peacefully on October 1, 2012. Devoted daughter of the late Wanda (nee Slomka), and the late Joseph Wieczorek; beloved wife of the late Herbert Kahn; loving mother of Donna Kahn (Walter Hughson), David, and Susan (Douglas) Bank; proud grandmother of Julia, Michelle, and Justin Bank; dear sister of Florence (Edward) Banach, Joe Wieczorek, and sister-in-law of Donald Kahn; fond aunt of Karen (Scott) Daniels, Ken Banach, and Karl (Kim) Banach; great-aunt of Kristin, Ashley and Andrew Daniels, and Courtney Banach; cherished friend of Bob Brandwein, and many others. Loretta helped her parents run the family's first business, Joe's Grocery and Meat Market, on Church Street in Evanston. In the early 50's they converted the Grocery into the first coin-operated Laundromat in Evanston and later added a dry cleaners. In the next few years they expanded with locations on Main Street and Custer Street, also in Evanston. With her business experience and a math degree from Northwestern University, Loretta helped her husband develop his company, American Metalcraft, a company that has made everything from hubcaps for the Tucker Torpedo, and the first Chicago style deep-dish pizza pans, to plate covers for the White House. An opera, music and theater lover, an arts enthusiast, and a prolific collector, Loretta was also a lifelong investor who followed the markets daily. After graduating college, she traveled alone to Europe and later to Cuba with girlfriends. She always wore pearls, and she never owned a pair of jeans. With an ardent intellectual curiosity and love of adventure, Loretta continued to travel the world throughout her life. An active alumna of Evanston Township High School and Northwestern University, she was also a longtime volunteer for many organizations. Loretta loved her "second family," the Unitarians, through whom she developed many exceptional friendships. Loretta maintained a rigorous social and cultural calendar until the day of her death. She lived a full and happy life on her own terms and described herself as "lucky in life." A memorial celebration will be held Sunday, November 11, 2012 at 2:30 p.m. at Ravinia Green Country Club, 1200 Saunders Road, Riverwoods, IL. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to Lake Shore Unitarian Society, 620 Lincoln Avenue, Winnetka, IL 60093 or the da Corneto Opera, 6352 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL 60659. Info, Evanston Funeral 847-866-8843