Plainfield Township Highway Commissioner Dies at 58

Plainfield is saying goodbye to a lifelong resident who left his mark on the community in more ways than one.

Plainfield Township Highway Commissioner Sam Reichert died unexpectedly Sunday at age 58.

Reichert is survived by Lynn, his wife of 31 years, son Tim Harmon of Plainfield and daughter Sunny Reichert of Santa Monica, California, among other family members.

He served as township highway commissioner since 2003, when he was appointed to replace retiring commissioner Tom Leonard. He was first elected to the position in 2005 and was serving his third term.

Reichert was just a youngster when he began helping his father, Sam Sr., at the family’s gas station at Lockport Street and Route 59. After his father retired, Sam Jr. opened Sam’s Service Station on Division Street in 1981, operating the business until the late 1990s. He was hired by the Plainfield Township Highway Department as a foreman in 1998.

“The township lost a great steward of the people with Sam’s passing,” Plainfield Township Supervisor Tony Fremarek said. “His passion for serving people was without equal. Sam was always the first person willing to help a resident, friend or neighbor.”

Reichert’s term as highway commissioner was set to expire in 2017.

Visitation is scheduled for 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, at Overman-Jones Funeral Home, 15219 S. Joliet Road. A funeral, also at Overman-Jones, is set for 11 a.m. Friday. Interment will be private.

From Reichert’s obituary:

Sam is survived by his beloved wife of 31 years, Lynn (nee Kuzma); his loving children, Tim Harmon of Plainfield and Sunny Reichert of Santa Monica, CA; his brother, Scott Reichert and his sisters, Sharon Reichert and Stacy (Ed) Bennett and their families; his brother-in-law, Larry (Jane) Kuzma and sister-in-law, Lori (Doug) Linn; as well as countless great friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel L. and Shirley Reichert, Sr. and his parents-in-law, Joseph and Bernardine Kuzma.

Sam was a graduate of Plainfield High School, Class of 1973. He took great pride in owning and operating Sam’s Service Station from 1981 to 1996. In 1998, he began working for Plainfield Township Highway Department. One always willing to be of service to his community, Sam was elected Highway Commissioner and was currently serving in his third term. He loved traveling the United States and was a member of several Route 66 Associations. He was a lifelong collector of gas station memorabilia and treasures, as well as an accomplished baker and cook. Sam was also a die-hard, lifelong Green Bay Packer fan and relished every one of their wins (especially over the Bears).

For those who would like to leave a lasting tribute to Sam’s lifelong devotion to the care of animals, memorials to the ASPCA would be greatly appreciated.

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