Ted Drabek Obituary

Living and growing up in Berwyn was especially great for two things: the Czech bakeries, and Uncle Ted's visits. He would talk about things, politics, stocks, etc. that were not usual topics of conversation and he would always throw a little teasing in on the side.



I remember family weddings where it was my evening hilight to dance with Uncle Ted. One just leaned back on his arm, and around you'd go, feeling like a really good dancer.



When Ruth and he started dating, it was so exciting. She was so pretty with a nice laugh and what really impressed me was that she worked at Marshall Fields downtown! We even took the L down and saw her one time.



Later in life, my husband Tim and I took a course together that required we make a video of someone over 50. Who could be better to interview than Ted who was about late 70's by then. He graciously accepted, so we made our trip to Berwyn for the dual purpose of seeing my mom Lillian, who wasn't doing really well then, and we had our borrowed videocamera with questions ready. It was a great time hearing about CCC camps, things about Uncle Frank and Uncle John, contests in the barn in So. Dakota. Every once in a while my mom (who was hiding behind the newspaper) would chime in to add to something he said.



Uncle Ted added a lot to my growing up years with his special affinity for getting along with so many people, good looks, jokes, and knowledge too. God bless you, Ruth, Jimmy, Gisele, Russell and other grandchildren, too. May your memories comfort you.

I wish I would have known about this web page sooner.



And now from the other side of the family......



My Mother, Laverne, was my Aunt Ruth's sister, so I knew and lived with my Aunt Ruth before Uncle Ted came along and swept Aunt Ruth off of her feet. I may not remember everything correctly, but I sure have a lot of wonderful memories of both Aunt Ruth and Uncle Ted (did the other side of the family refer to them as Uncle Ted and Aunt Ruth?). I remember my future Uncle Ted bringing Aunt Ruth over to my folk's house in Garfield Ridge, on the southwest side of Chicago, when he was courting her, what a charmer. I remember the wedding and the reception at Casanovas on North Avenue just west of Harlem in Elmwood Park. I remember the Balaban & Katz Mercury Movie Theatre was being built right next to the resturant, the theatre closed in 1988, was demolished and is now a strip mall with a Blockbuster Video Store (their marriage lasted a lot longer then the theatre). They went on a honeymoon out to the Black Hills, came back and moved into Aunt Ruth's apartment on the north side of Chicago, on Kildare. Aunt Ruth's Dad my Grandpa Moberg had been living with her but he moved out, which was nice for the love birds. After a while they moved to Uncle Ted's beloved Berwyn, to an apartment on Grove, just north of Cermak. In the days of rotary phones and exchanges, before area codes, they got the phone number STanley 8-5547. Now days with everyone always moving, I only know of one other who has kept their phone number for such a long time. They then moved south of 22nd Street to an apartment on Euclid. it was at this location that little Jim (well at least at that time he was little) had his first home. At about the time Gisele was to arrive they bought the beauty shop/house on Clarence a few blocks to the east. Uncle Ted would pay me to go over and work in the yard which was really in bad shape when he bought the place. It was interesting to see the construction being done to put on a nice new front, the ceiling being lowered and it being finished off to make a very nice home. Uncle Ted always kept their home, yard and from what I understand the plants at PAV Realty in perfect shape. He even planted a tree at my folk's house down in Florida. Of course I can't forget the other addition to their family, their schanuzer, Daisy.



We lived at 52nd and Neenah so we really didn't live that far from Uncle Ted, but in order to get to Berwyn we had to go all the way to Harlem and take the bridge between Archer and 47th over the canal, (I wish I had a dollar for every time I went over that bridge), but still much to my delight we always seemed to be going over to Aunt Ruth's and Uncle Ted's. One thing was for sure Aunts Ruth's sweet tooth made sure I would always get something sweet to eat from Fingerhut's Bakery. If Grandpa Moberg was over he and Uncle Ted would get into it about politics,in my unbiased opinion I always thought Uncle Ted won and Grandpa would become all befuddled! One of the things I liked to do at their house was to go out on the back porch and read all the National Geographic Magazines that Uncle Ted had subscribed to forever. At many of the gatherings Uncle Ted's sister Frances would attend so I was lucky enough to see her very often, a very neat lady. I also got to go over Grandma and Grandpa Drabek's place on Drake, Rose and Wesley's "farm" in Hinsdale (I wonder what it's like there now?) and Lillian and Fred's house down a way on Clarence and I think I also saw Mary. What a wonderful family to be around.



Uncle Ted was a really smart man, a Democrat and a top notch realtor. I remember him talking all the time about Mr. and Mrs. Baar, her radio show and Baar Realty and later about PAV Realtors. Did you know the Illinois State Treasure, Judy Baar Topinka, daughter of the Baar's came to Uncle Ted's wake? Thanks Judy! He was always checking out buildings wherever he went, I know he sure checked out my place. Aunt Ruth told me that she will still receive money for a place he sold that hasn't closed yet (good for you Uncle Ted). I'm glad he got to stay at my brother Dick's house up on Antler Lake in Milltown, Wisconsin and check that place out. I remember Uncle Ted singing mostly what I would say were western songs like: Home on the Range, Tunbling Tumbleweeds, Cool Water, On Top of Old Smokey etc. Of course his stories of the Hillhead, Britton, Marshall County area of South Dakota were just great. I'll never forget that horse he had. Uncle Ted was really out in the country in Marshall County, Berwyn has about 12 times as many people as live in all of that county. Of course everyone knew of his sense of humor, the tricks he would play on people, the mischief he would get into. My brother wore diapers a little longer then Uncle Ted thought he should, so Uncle Ted would wiggle his dreaded index finger at Dick, teasing him. I know he would drive my Mom crazy calling her up with his disguised voices. After he would visit and would be long gone, I would find he had left a business card somewhere. Gisele was telling me how he would tease her about living in Laramie, Wyoming and if she was eating buffalo meat or buffalo burgers, what a clown.



I last saw Uncle Ted in January for Aunt Ruth's birthday and he was as sharp as ever. My brother had his two dogs with so he got to meet Bear and Lucy.



But the greatest legacy he left (not to take anything away from Jim or Gisele) is his grandson Russell! Russ the old salt who after traveling all over the world with the Navy, came home, well if not to Berwyn, close enough to Lombard, What a grandfather he was to Russ, what a grandson Russ was to Uncle Ted! Its good he got to know Jenna and more important that Jenna got to know Russ's Grandpa. No wonder Russ turned out so good! Uncle Ted, Aunt Ruth and Gisele are all so very proud! Don't miss the photo of Uncle Ted and Russ in the PHOTO GALLERY.



One last thing, my wife I collect a lot of collectables one of which is Red Wing Stoneware which was made a long time ago in Red Wing, Minnesota, so we have all these crocks and jugs on display. Uncle Ted had to just do one of the crazy things he would do and put a quater in one of the 5 gallon jugs, it's still there and it will be as long as I'm around. Thanks for everyting Uncle Ted and the quarter!



LOVE Nephew Bob & Sharon Jensen

My last Uncle, what a loss! I always felt my Uncle Ted was special - having a July 4th birthday, being a wonderful polka dancer (always making me dizzy, daring to be a singing waiter, having handsome looks and a big smile to sway the gals in his early years. When he would visit us on our farm in South Dakota, I always thought he would become a movie star for sure. My mother Mary's hopes to become a nurse (with bags already packed) were dashed within a couple of days of leaving when her mother informed her a new baby (Ted) was on the way and she would have to stay home and help care for him. Her tender loving care helped give Ted his humourous and dynamic personality I'm sure, as she loved him dearly. At the wake I told Uncle Ted to say "Hello" to all his siblings and parents and continue to have a wonderful existence. I loved him. Walt and I extend our heartfelt sympathy to you, Ruth, Gisele and Jim.

We should all be so blessed as to have a full and productive life like Uncle Ted. To be able to work at what you loved up to the age of 90. He was a great role model with a happy disposition and good sense of humor. He made you feel good just being around him. He will be greatly missed by all his family and friends.

My dad was one of a kind. There is a void in my life and others that will not be filled. He was always there for me and my grandchildren, and especially for Russ, he thought of Russ as a son and Russ thought of him as a father. I think one of the most important lessons he taught me is to have a sense of humor, and you have to keep looking on the bright side, no matter what.

I thank all who attened the wake and funeral or who couldn't attend and sent wishes. I believe there is a great big "Drabek" reunion in heaven going on with all the Drabek children together again. God Bless to all.

The internet does not have the capacity to breifly summarize the impact that my grandpa had on my life. He is the most important person in my life and the void that is left cannot be filled. I can only hope to scratch the surface of the compassion, love and humor that he has showed me in my 26 years with him. Although I suffer the pain of losing a father, his legacy will be known to my children's children. I Have, do and ALWAYS will love him until the day I die.

Uncle Ted had a zest for life, love of family and good humor that I have always admired. He brought mischief into a family of strong and sometimes willful brothers and sisters. I believe he was the perfect antidote. Many were the times he was called "that darn Teddy, do you know what he did?" I have many memories of his calls to my Dad, Albert, often in a disguised voice, which brought humor and laughter into his day. Uncle Ted loved his family above all and was a sucessful real estate agent up to the end. Grandma and Grandpa Drabek married in 1893 and this being 2005, there is nearly 112 years of Drabek legacy. I will miss Uncle Ted, but I also feel lucky to have had so much time with him and all of our beloved Drabek family members.

I will miss dearest great uncle Ted.

He was always so sincerely interested in what was going on in my life. I didn't get to see him very often. But the talks and visits we had left quite an imprint.

Uncle Ted will be greatly missed by all.I got to know him Quite well when Uncle Ted and Jim came up to my chalet a few years back and we went all over northern Michigan. Even on vacation he was allways checking real estate. The Drabek reunions will not be the same without his smiling face, opinions and his history of the family.



Love,

Ted was always such a sweet man. I visited in the last weeks of his life. We sat in the kitchen and talked for a while to give him a rest and then went back to where he was resting. He said to me:



"I can hear you laugh all the way in here." And then proceeded to tell me jokes that he played on Aunt Mary, on everyone, and I couldn't help but laugh. It seemed to do him good.



What a lovely man. Like my own dad. Let us carry on.



Katherine Drabek

My regards to Ruth, Jim, Gisele and families. Keep alive the values and ideals that Ted believed in. Ted was a strong, successful man, who made an impact on those who knew him. May time heal the sorrow of his loss and his legacy profit those he left behind.

Ted's passing closes the book on the children of Albert Drabek Sr. Ted was the youngest and according to my dad,Albert Jr.,was full of tricks all his life. It was obvious that he had a great joy in living and interacting with other people. He will be missed by all his family and friends which shows a life well lived. We should all hope to leave such a legacy.

Uncle Ted was a very special man. I will miss his lively conversation and his loving ways. He was interested in everyone and had great insight into people. And I too will miss his smile.

Ted will always have place in my heart. I'd have to agree with my sister Joanne, his smile does remind me of our Grandma's. I have one regret, I always wanted to stop by his real estate office.

Although I hadn't seen my great uncle Ted in quite some time, I have warm memories of him from when I was a child and there were large "Drabek gatherings". He lived a long and active life. What a gift. My condolences to Ruth, Jim and Gisele.

Sadden by the death of Uncle Ted, but happy that we had him for as long as we did. His voice was a reminder of my dad (John). They sounded alike.

I am glad I went to the reunion

in Aug and had a great visit with him. His sense of humor, laugh and stories will be missed. No doubt he is giving investment and real estate advice in heaven.

Unable to attend the funeral but know that our hearts and prayers are there. My husband Gary and brother John send their love also.

Signing this Guest Book is a nice tribute to my uncle who was a caring, sharp man. He was always interested in family & world affairs. His smile lit up his whole face. Memories of him will be etched in our hearts.

This is the third time I am signing this book. I thought the Guest Book would be a nice tribute to a wonderful man who was always sincerely interested in his family & the world. So glad he enjoyed 90 years. Worked in real estate until nearly the end. Memories of him & his broad smile will be etched in our hearts.

I will miss Uncle Ted and his always smiling face.

Uncle Ted was the last of the nine Drabek siblings. He has offered support, knowledge and humor to his nieces and nephews, whose parents have passed on. My mom was his sister, Rose. I for one, will miss the conversations we had. His sharing and love will never be forgotten.

I checked Tribune but found Ted's obituary in the Sun-Times....the old Democrat! Already signed this guest book earlier.



There is a void in the Drabek family. Uncle Ted was a caring, sharp man with an unforgettable smile. Glad he had a long, happy life. May he rest in peace.



Love, Verona & Alan

This morning have been searching the internet for Berwyn florists and checking obituaries. Uncle Ted was not listed in the Tribune, but in the Sun-Times...the good Democrat. LOSING UNCLE TED LEAVES A VOID IN THE DRABEK FAMILY. HE WAS A CARING, SHARP MAN WITH A WONDERFUL SMILE. HE WAS A GREAT ROLE MODEL. GLAD HE HAD A GOOD LIFE. MAY HE REST IN PEACE. Love you, Niece Verona & Alan

I will always remember Ted's BIG SMILE. It reminded me of my grandmother's (his sister Rose). May Ted be resting in peace.