North Shore Death Notices: Dec. 26 - Jan. 1

The following death notices were added to funeral homes serving the North Shore area in the past week. Those homes have provided obituaries for some of those that have passed away recently. Patch offers condolences to their loved ones, links to their obituaries and notices of upcoming services below.

Donnellan Funeral Home, 10045 Skokie Boulevard in Skokie

Michael Stepan Schoder, 27, Winnetka
Visitation Jan. 2, Service Jan. 3

Charlotte Helen Ryan née Kepner, 96, Wilmette
Visitation and service Jan. 3

Eileen C. Berry née Coughlin, 88, Glenview
Visitation Jan. 3, Service Jan. 4

Gordon L. Roeder, 85, Wilmette
Visitation Jan. 3, Service Jan. 4

Charles “Chuck” J. Lenz, 88, Evanston
Visitation Jan. 4, Service Jan. 5

Sidney Newing Doolittle, 83, Evanston
Service Jan. 13

Leah Westerman née Jacobs, 101, Winnetka
Celebration of Life, 102nd Birthday Jan. 14

Haben Funeral Home, 8057 Niles Center Road in Skokie

Jerry Pulanco Rimando, 67, Skokie
Visitation Jan. 2, Service Jan. 3

Lois A. Warner née Wood, 80, Chicago
Service Jan. 6

Simon Balansche, 97, Bartlett

Chicago Jewish Funerals, 8851 Skokie Boulevard in Skokie

Leonard S. Powell, 96
Service Jan. 2

Sheldon Wilens, 91
Service Jan. 2

Norman M. Gold, 87
Service Jan. 2

Zan Skolnick, 84
Service Jan. 2

Sandra Di Michele, 80
Service Jan. 2

Mort E. Oman, 94
Service Jan. 3

Cynthia Turoff, 88
Service Jan. 3

James Leopold, 99

Ira Irvin Gelman

Simkins Funeral Home, 6251 Dempster Street in Morton Grove

Bob Green, 70, Morton Grove
Service Jan. 4

Constantine Trela, 100, Morton Grove

Wenben Funeral Home, 320 Vine Avenue in Lake Forest

Walter Koza, 82, Lake Forest

James Joseph Bertucci, 74, Lake Forest

Kelley & Spalding Funeral Home, 1787 Deerfield Road in Highland Park

Ralph M. Kurzydlo, 87, Riverwoods

Richard "Ritch" P. Kropp passed away peacefully at home on December 26, 2017, after a long illness. He was 77 years old. Father of seven children and a retired insurance executive, Ritch and his wife, Marge, have lived in Wilmette since 1976.

Ritch was the loving husband of Margaret A. Kropp nee O’Toole for almost 52 years, and proud father of Mary Rita Kropp and husband John O’Connell of Wilmette, Margaret "Meg" and husband Jonathan "JD" Glick of Chicago, Matthew Kropp and wife Monica of Des Plaines, Nora Kropp and husband Vishnu Swaminathan of Wilmette, Sarah and husband Jimmy Amutavi of Wilmette, Michael Kropp and wife Annie Relias of Wilmette, and Kathleen Kropp and husband Paul Bell of Chicago.

He was the devoted grandfather of nine grandchildren: Eamon, Lydia and Martin O’Connell of Wilmette, Abigail Kropp of Des Plaines, and Sai Isha and Anabella Swaminathan, Van Amutavi, Sophia and John Kropp, all of Wilmette.

Ritch is survived by his sister Dahli Kroplewski, of Berkeley, CA, and brother Michael Kropp of Round Lake Beach, IL, as well as his beloved uncle Robert Brugger of Chicago, several cousins and many loving nieces, nephews and in-laws.

Known for his intelligence, wit and friendly smile, Ritch Kropp had a successful, 35-year career in the insurance industry, rising to executive positions at CNA and then Shand Morahan, where he led a unit that specialized in esoteric risks such as concert tours and large marine mammals. He worked as a consultant for several years after his retirement in 1995.

The Kropp family home on Catalpa Place in Wilmette was a center of activity for Ritch, Marge, their children and a large circle of extended family and friends from St. Francis Xavier School and Parish, Regina Dominican High School, Loyola Academy and New Trier High School. Ritch was known as a master on the grill, an excellent golfer and a formidable card player. He was a former member of the Wilmette Golf Club and a member of the St. Vincent De Paul Society at St. Francis Xavier. Ritch was also the treasurer of the Northshore CROP Walk for many years.

Ritch and Marge especially enjoyed trips to visit their children in Kenya and India, and summer vacations on Cape Cod.

Born in Chicago on October 31, 1940 to Margaret nee Brugger and Paul Kropp, Ritch grew up in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, where he made friendships that lasted his entire life. He graduated from De Paul Academy and attended Loyola University before entering the insurance business. Ritch and Marge, who had known each other since seventh grade, were married on February 19, 1966 at St. Clements Church in Chicago. The Kropps lived in Cincinnati, Chicago and in Melrose, MA for several years before moving to Wilmette.

The Kropp family is very grateful to JourneyCare, and especially Julie Carr, Ruth Callanta and Jeanine Thomas for their loving support in caring for Ritch in home hospice through the end of his life.

Visitation: Thursday January 4th 2018 3:00 p.m - 8:00 p.m.Donnellan Family Funeral Home, 10045 Skokie Boulevard, at Old Orchard Road, Skokie, IL 60077.

Funeral Mass: Friday, January 5th 2018, 10:00 a.m at St. Francis Xavier Church, 524 Ninth Street (Ninth Street and Linden Avenue), Wilmette, IL 60091

Interment: All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines, IL

Donations may be made in Ritch's name to:

Society of St. Vincent De Paul at
St. Francis Xavier Church
524 Ninth Street
Wilmette, Illinois 60091

or

JourneyCare
2050 Claire Court,
Glenview, Illinois 60025

_{» via Donnellan Family Funeral Home}

Last week: North Shore Death Notices: Dec. 18 - Dec. 25