Lynn Deetjen, Wife Of Oak Lawn Village Manager, Dies At Age 70

OAK LAWN, IL — Madeline “Lynn” Deetjen, an accomplished real estate agent, lost her battle with cancer on Aug. 23. She was the wife of Oak Lawn Village Manager Larry Deetjen. Lynn was 70 years old. A private service has been held.

Businesses around Oak Lawn paid tribute to Lynn on their marquees. Lynn and Larry both turned 70 this year and celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary earlier this month with a party at their summer home in Grand Haven, Mich, where Lynn died in the presence of her husband and her youngest daughter and son-in-law.

“For those who truly knew Lynn, she was all about family and passionately living life to the fullest,” Larry Deetjen stated. “Lynn was a driver and a hard charging Wild Irish Rose. What a couple we were and our nights after [our] kids went to bed and even before that were full of bouncing ideas and thoughts for the ensuing day and our individual courses of action.”

Lynn was born March 19, 1949 in Boston, Mass., to Walter and Catherine "Be-Ma" Russell, who preceded her in death. Lynn and Larry married Aug. 18, 1974 in Arlington, Mass. Prior to moving to Oak Lawn, Lynn made a name for herself in Deerfield Beach, Fla., where the couple resided for many years, serving as elected president and a board member of the Deer Creek Improvement Association. Lynn provided the vision and drive to develop River Park in Deerfield Beach as well as enhanced landscaped entrance ways for the 17 communities making up the association, according to Lynn’s memoriam page.

She was a former member of St. Patrick-St. Anthony Catholic Church. Prior to her successful real estate career, Lynn taught mathematics to both secondary and college level students in Massachusetts and Michigan.

“Most important, Lynn was a mother extraordinaire who deeply cared about her own children, her three granddaughters, her wonderful sons-in-law Gabe and Robbie, her Russell sisters and brothers, [and] the children of her brothers and nieces,” her husband wrote.

Lynn was the proud mother of Heather (Gabe), an attorney and current president of the Los Angeles Women Lawyers Association; son, Chad,” a pharmacist Pharm D in Palm Beach, Fla.; and youngest daughter, Jill, an accomplished black belt business woman based in Orange County, Calif. Jill and her husband, Robbie, are also both Ironmen.

“There is without any doubt that our very, very, very proudest moments together as parents were attending graduation ceremonies of our children at Columbia University in NYC; University of Florida in Gainesville; Tulane University in New Orleans; UCLA Law School in Westwood; and Philadelphia School of Osteopathic Medicine and Pharmacy in Atlanta,” Larry said. “We beamed with pride, joy, and shared their dreams being achieved by hard work and sacrifice. We hope everyone values education as we do.”

In addition to her husband and children, Lynn leaves three granddaughters, Willow, Elowen and Sage; five sisters, five sisters: Kathy (Dick) Milne, Nancy Bannister, Helen (Vince) Barauskas, Jane (Jim) Martin, and Judy (Bob) Femia; her brothers: Tim Russell and Rusty (Vickie) Russell; and brother-in-law, Garry (Susie) Deetjen. She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Walter and Catherine "Be-Ma" Russell; her husband's parents Willard and Dorothy Deetjen; and sister-in-law, Barbara Russell, wife of her brother Tim.

Interment will take place in Lake Forest Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, her family encourages donations to Hospice of North Ottawa Community.

“Their team consists of angels that walk among us and brought great comfort to Lynn during her transition,” the family stated.

Condolences to the Deetjen family may be left on Lynn’s memorial page.