Howard Schwark

Howard Edward Schwark, 87, of Crystal Lake, former longtime Kankakee County superintendent of highways, died Wednesday (April 27, 2005) at Crystal Pines Health Care Center.Mr. Schwark served as superintendent of highways from 1952 until he retired in 1982. He also was assistant county superintendent of highways for Kankakee County from 1946-52, assistant to the county superintendent of highways in Ford County from 1941-43, and an engineer for E.I. DuPont de Nemours Co. in 1942.Active in the community, he served as president of the Kankakee Park District board, and was a former director of the Kankakee Chamber of Commerce.Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Friday at Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral Home, West Kankakee, and from 9 a.m. Saturday at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Bradley, until the 10 a.m. services. Rev. Craig Sagebiel will officiate.Burial will be in Kankakee Memorial Gardens.Memorials may be made to Our Savior Lutheran Church, where he was a member; or to Alzheimers Research, Kankakee Chapter.He was born Aug. 31, 1917, in Bonfield, the son of Edward F. and Florence M. Schultz Schwark.His first wife, the former Arlene M. Highbarger, whom he married Sept. 28, 1940, died in May 1990.Surviving are his wife, the former Carol Schmert Kehoe, whom he married June 1, 1991; one stepson and stepdaughter-in-law, Timothy and Doris Kehoe of Oswego; two stepdaughters and stepsons-in-law, Colleen and Mike Corbin of Marengo, Maureen and Tim Bauwens of Huntley; two brothers and one sister-in-law, Merle Schwark of Herscher, Wilbur and Fostine Schwark of Bonfield; seven grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.He attended St. Viator College and was a graduate of the University of Illinois, where he received the Outstanding Engineering Alumnus Award.Mr. Schwark served in the U.S. Army.He was on the board of directors for First American Bank, Kankakee Development Corp., and served on the board of directors of Soil and Water Conservation Service from 1967-74. He received the distinguished service award from the U.S. Dept. Transportation in 1982.Mr. Schwark was a life member of the National Society of Professional Engineers and the National Association of County Engineers. He also was a life member of the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers and the Illinois Association of County Superintendents of Highways, where he served as president in 1970. In addition, he was a member of the American Road Builders Association.He was a member of the executive board of Rainbow Council of Boy Scouts of America, and a member of the Kankakee Rotary Club, the Kankakee Valley Boat Club, the Kankakee YMCA and Trinity Lutheran Church of Herscher. He also had worked on Community Chest and Red Cross fund-raising campaigns.He enjoyed fishing, photography and woodworking.

Howard Schwark

August 31, 1917 - April 27, 2005