​Obituary for John "Jack" E. MorelandJohn (Jack) Ernest Moreland, age 84, of Village Woods in Crete, Illinois, died while in hospice on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2022, surrounded by family at the home of his daughter Pam Moreland-Doup, in Beecher Illinois, from Cerebral Atherosclerosis. He was born May 20, 1937, to the late James Theodore Moreland and Dorothea Helen (Ruickert) in Chicago, Illinois. Jack and Lillian (Weigel) were married on June 3, 1955.

Jack was raised on Chicago’s south side and attended Immanuel Lutheran School and Bowen High School. Jack and his wife Lillian attended Immanuel Lutheran School where they were in the same classes since 3rd grade. He was active in sports and a catcher for the 1956 Chicago All-Star team and played at Wrigley Field. He played Pee Wee football at half time during the Chicago Cardinals Detroit game. Jack also played during the Chicago Bears Green Bay Packers half time game at Wrigley Field. He was scouted by the Baltimore Orioles, but was injured in an industrial accident. Jack’s direct quote, “I had great ambition as a young teenager to be a career baseball player, but by the next year 1957, my playing days were over. Late in 1956, I found a job at the Youngstown Steel Mill, located in South Chicago across the 95th street bridge. I was involved in a major 5-man accident and almost traded my body for a bundle of reinforcing rods. I was fortunate, after 3 months in the hospital, to keep my left leg attached. It is strange how one’s life takes various turns in other directions from where you originally started. I am content with what I have accomplished so far and my post scholastic skills were learned while attending class at “Harvard on the Nile” in the streets of various industries; but there isn’t a night that goes by that I don’t dream of my highlights at the “old baseball field of dreams”, at Bessemer Park in South Chicago.”

Jack’s other passion and hobby was his professional career. He participated in the pioneering development of air supported structures that first appeared in the industry in 1960. In 1970, he was part of a team that developed an air inflated structure to provide chemical and biological protection for military personnel. In 1975, he helped develop a special air supported structure to provide cold weather protection to support construction activity on the Alaskan pipeline. In 1985, Jack developed a secondary containment system for underground leaking storage tanks used by major oil companies to address environmental regulations. In 1995, he helped develop a secondary containment system for large vertical aboveground storage tanks for major oil companies. In 2001, he developed several flexible fuel storage tanks (aka pillow tanks) for the US Army to support the theatre of operations in the Middle East. In 2006, Jack developed a large 200,000-gallon flexible fuel storage tank for the US Air Force to support their air bases in the Middle East.

Previously, Jack was CEO and General Manager of CIDAIR Structures, an officer at MPC Putterman and owner of Moreland International, Ltd. He has traveled millions of miles around the world and crossed the Arctic Circle working on commercial, industrial and defense projects. He was a creative, intelligent and professional entrepreneur and an inventor holding patents. Jack had spoken at many conferences and maintained valuable relationships in the commercial, government, US military and oil industries.

He was a devoted husband and loving father. Prior to moving to Crete, Illinois in 1996, Jack and his family lived in Dolton for 30 years. When Jack and Lillian bought their home in 1965, a half block from Dolton Park, he felt he won the lottery since they had six children. He spent many weekends and occasions playing baseball with his children, family and the neighborhood kids, as well as going on weekend excursions visiting museums and zoos. Jack was a patriot, Republican, active voter and devout Lutheran, including serving in various church leadership roles. He was a lifelong Bears and Cubs fan. Jack and Lillian were lovers and partners for life, knowing each other for 70 years and often referred to her as his beautiful “Elizabeth Taylor” and his beautiful “Rose”, now joining her in heaven on Valentine’s Day.

He is survived by his loving children, Pamela “Pam” Moreland-Doup (John Doup), of Beecher, IL, John “Jack” Moreland of Danville, IL, Deborah “Debbie” (Dennis) Hall of Burlington, WI, Lawrence “Larry” (Victoria) Moreland of Lawton, MI, Mary Lou Moreland of Beecher, IL, and Peggy (late David) Forbes of Tallahassee, FL. Dearest grandfather of Jaclyn Doup (Jason) Benedict of Oceanside, CA, Justin (Jessica Gaspar) Doup of Tinley Park, IL, John “Jackie” (Michelle) Moreland of Hobart, IN, Allissa Hostettler of Plymouth, IN, Matthew Moreland of Plymouth, IN, Jamie (Mark) Spangler of Burlington, WI, Elizabeth “Liz” Hall of Salem, WI, Rachael Moreland of Aurora, CO, Alexander “Alex” (Holly) Moreland of Rockford, IL, Cameron Forbes of Medina, OH and Sydney Forbes of Rochester, NY. Dearest great grandfather of Lucas Doup of Tinley Park, IL, Jackson, Alexander and Zoey Moreland of Hobart, IN, Robert “Bobbie” and Chloe Hostettler of Plymouth, IN, Zachary, Jacob and Samantha Siler of Burlington, WI, and Edward Gureczny IV of Salem, WI.

He will be dearly missed by his sister, Anita (Moreland) Yovich of Grand Rapids, MI, sister-in-law Janice “Jan” (Mummert) Moreland of Springfield, IL and his brother-in-law and friend Ronald Olsen of Benbrook, TX, as well as by many cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and business associates. In addition to his loving wife, Lillian, and parents, Jack is predeceased by his brother Ronald “Ron” Moreland, sisters-in-law Betty Lou (Weigel) Olsen, Mary Lou Weigel (Betty’s twin) and Janet (Weigel) Katschke, and brothers-in-law Robert “Bob” Katschke and Daniel “Dan” Yovich, and son-in-law David Forbes.

Visitation will be held Friday, February 25, 2022, from 6pm-8:30pm and Saturday, February 26, 2022, from 10am-11am at Zion Lutheran Church, 540 Oak Park Avenue in Beecher, Illinois. The funeral service will also be at Zion Lutheran Church at 11am on Saturday, February 26, 2022 with Pastor Ronald Rock officiating. Interment will be at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery, 28054 S. Yates, Beecher, Illinois. Hack-Jensen Funeral Home, Beecher, Illinois, is handling the arrangements and can be reached at 708-946-2161.

The family wishes to thank Pastor Ronald Rock, Village Woods and Vitas Hospice for the compassionate care and support they provided to Jack’s family. Charitable donations may be made to Zion Lutheran Church, 540 Oak Park Avenue, Beecher, Illinois 60401.

​Robert George Buikema, 76, of Beecher, passed away Thursday November 18, 2021, at his home.
He was born February 12, 1945, in Chicago, IL, the son of Arthur & Jessie (Ebbens) Buikema.
Robert is survived by his wife, Virginia (Hamann) Buikema, children; Mike (Sheree) Buikema, Sue (Paul) Beezhold, Kerry(Michele) Buikema, Tina (Patrick) Antolik, and Tom (Angie) Buikema, grandchildren; Breanna Jones, Lance Findlay, Brandon Buikema, Zach Buikema, Claire Beezhold, Curtis Buikema, and Kyle Buikema, and a great-grandchild, Alara Jones.
He is preceded in death by his parents, and a brother John Buikema.
Robert enjoyed mowing the yard, traveling, crossword puzzles, bowling, and visiting with his neighbors.

A visitation will be held Saturday December 4, 2021 from 9:30 am until the funeral service at 10:30 am at Zion Lutheran Church in Beecher. Pastor Ron Rock will officiate.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Vivian Judy (Leslie) Bramstaedt  
February 24, 1938 – July 9, 2021
 
Vivian Judy (Leslie) Bramstaedt was born on February 24, 1938 to Roy and Viola (Schumacher) Leslie. Shortly thereafter, on June 17th, her Christian parents, joyfully following the command of Christ Jesus, had little Vivian Baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Steger, IL. In that most blessed of Sacraments, Vivian was adopted by God to be His dear daughter for all of time and throughout eternity. That seemingly simple act would serve to shape, guide, and direct Vivian for the rest of her life! Vivian would later personally and publicly acknowledge her Baptismal faith when she underwent the Rite of Confirmation on April 6, 1952, also held at Immanuel Lutheran in Steger. Her Confirmation Verse is Psalm 143:10.
God, in His grace, caused Vivian to meet Willis Bramstaedt. After a time of dating, they became married to one another before God and His people at Immanuel Lutheran on July 23, 1960. In the ensuing years, God added even more joy to their blessed, holy union with the gift of a son, Mitchell. They remained married until the Lord called Willis unto Himself on June 25, 2019.
Raised in an era where “hard work” was the norm for everyone, Vivian never let time go wasted. She retired from Illinois Bell after having worked there for 28 years. She also kept busy on her and Willis’ farm doing all manner of jobs. She tended a garden and in the last few years, even helped Willis to cut their lawn using their “his and her” lawn tractors! Also, following her retirement from Illinois Bell, for a number of years, Vivian volunteered at least one day each week in Zion’s Church Office, assisting with office and clerical duties.
On July of 1963, the Bramstaedt’s transferred their church membership into that of Zion Lutheran in Beecher. Vivian loved Zion and her fellow members and Zion would remain her “church home” for the rest of her life. Vivian was very faithful in her weekly worship with her brothers and sisters in the faith. She was an active Ladies Bible Class participant. She also was a member of the Dorcas Society and served on the Altar Guild for many years as well.
Vivian was called to her heavenly home on July 9, 2021. She is survived by her son, Mitch Bramstaedt, of Burbank, IL, and her brother, Wayne Leslie, of Minneapolis, MN. She was preceded in death by her husband, a brother, Eugene “Les” Leslie, a sister, Victoria Leslie, and her parents.
Vivian’s earthly remains will be laid to rest at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery of Beecher, IL. There they shall await the Day of the Resurrection of All Flesh, when the voice of Jesus will call forth Vivian to live with Him in body and soul forevermore.