Robert Podgorny Obituary

Podgorny, Robert Anthony A resident of Frankfort previous resident of Dolton and Frankfort, lifetime member of the American Legion Post 303 and Catholic War Veterans he was former official of the local State of each organization in Illinois over the years. At a young age he became a strong man dealing with his father's death from a heart attack and helping raise his younger sister and brother as well as assisting his mother through out the years until her life eventually passed. He was an athlete and musician never knowing he would later breed a great group of future musicians and artesian, while he was playing the drums professionally and working on a daily basis as an engineer. He met the love of his life our mother and future grandmother Gloria Panozzo while playing at a local nightclub. They married on February 14, 1952. Our father and mother were a team all the way to the end and they were loved dearly by all family members. In the early 1950's he was in the Army in the Korean War serving his country. Our father felt family was always the first and he married into one of the best Italian families anyone could ever imagine when he met our mother. The family loved our father and his love for their sister, traditions and family. Robert returned to mechanical engineering after the Korean War with Whiting Corporation at the Swenson Division. He worked for the firm for 44 years before retirement and a Sr. design engineer. After retirement he became President of his Town home Association in Frankfort and worked through many positions on the board to serve his community, a former baseball player in Harvey and a true White Sox fan and lover of all baseball all the way to the end of his life. He graduated from Thornton High School, and Purdue Calumet University. He was preceded in death by his father Anthony, mother Mary, many aunts and uncles and numerous brother and sister-in-laws; loving father of Susan (Edwin) Bear and Michael A. (Alicia) Podgorny, grandfather of Rob, Michael Jr., Christopher, and Jeremy; uncle and friend too many people who were involved in his lifetime over the years. Family will receive friends at Kurtz Memorial Chapel, 65 Old Frankfort Way, Frankfort, IL 60423 on Friday September 11, 2009 from 3 to 9 pm. Funeral Mass Saturday September 12, 2009 at St. Anthony Church 10:00 am. Interment to follow at Assumption Cemetery, Glenwood. In lieu of flowers memorial donations to American Heart Association or American Kidney Foundation would be appreciated. For Information 815-806-2225.