Wayne Preisel

Visitation for Wayne Preisel, 93, of Kankakee, will be from 9:30 a.m. Friday until the 11 a.m. funeral service at the Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral Home, west Kankakee. Father James Fanale will officiate.Burial will be in Kankakee Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to Riverside Medical Center or to the donor's choice. He died Tuesday (Aug. 19, 2008) at Riverside Medical Center.Wayne had a good life. Even in the years after his retirement, he would look at a building and say, "I'd like to be building that one!" He never lost his positive attitude in life.He was raised in the Riverview area of Kankakee to very proud parents who came from Buckley. Wayne attended St. Paul Lutheran grade school and then went to Onarga Military Academy and Gallagher Business School.His father built several homes in Kankakee and for several years Wayne worked with him. His father preferred residences, but Wayne wanted to get into commercial construction.When his father became the assessor for Kankakee, Wayne purchased the business. He started meagerly and loved every second of preparing bids and the excitement of the lettings. If he didn't get the job, he wasn't depressed -- he was always looking to the next project. He never lost his positive attitude.In the 1950s he was introduced to Kathryn by Mary and Raoul Burgeois. Mary was a Linsky and her sister had married a cousin of Kathryn's after he graduated from St. Viator's College. Wayne and Kathryn were married in St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Joliet on July 11, 1959. They shared many happy years.Kathryn "Kay" assisted in office work of the business, took bids to lettings and shared the pleasure of friends and many trips. They traveled to Florida, Arizona, California, Hawaii and cruises. They had good friends in Honolulu and an adopted son is named after Wayne.The friendship with this family continues. When the family visited Kankakee, they wanted to see the soybean fields and also asked "Don't you have any hills?"Wayne did construction for many plants in our area, including A.O. Smith, Roper Corporation, the Beckman and Panozzo families, Kankakee Container Company, Baker & Taylor and others.An executive for Baker & Taylor was here from New York, and he said not many would give a construction contract to an individual on a handshake! Wayne was a man of high integrity and his handshake was as good as a legal contract. He was strict, loving and truthful with high principles by which he stood. Projects were always done according to plans and specifications.He arose each morning with optimism and always ready to do the best for friends or his business. He believed wealth came from love of family, community and service. Throughout the years he gave helpful guidance to men starting in various fields of the construction business.He particularly enjoyed doing commercial and hospital work. The latter was a challenge, and Kankakee was thankful to have a second hospital to serve our community. Many individuals gave time and money to Riverside Medical Center. Joe Berz was a friend and gave Riverside great help. Wayne and Kay have been proud of the positive thinking of the board and were honored to be given the Samaritans of the Year Award in 1985.Wayne had been a member and held offices in the Kankakee Builders Club.He was a sports fan of the University of Illinois and for years had season football seats. He was an avid Bears fan and attended many games. He and Kay traveled east for the Army-Navy football games and also to Harvard-Yale games (the latter when Chuck Fienning and David Lang were attending the colleges). He also attended the Masters Golf Tournament three times.Wayne was thankful all his life for his family, friends and the good times he had in his business and the joyous life he and Kay have shared for many years. As Wayne would say, "It's been a wonderful life."

Wayne Preisel

November 23, 1914 - August 19, 2008