Kenneth J. LaSota

Kenneth J. LaSota, age 79, died at home on November 12, 2021. He was a long-time resident of South Barrington. Born January 26, 1942, in Chicago to Joseph and Frances (Cwiklinski) LaSota. Beloved husband of Patricia, nee Lewand; loving father of Jacqueline (Ron) Price, Mike (Kathi) Tomaszewski, Dave (Maricel) Tomaszewski and Dennis (April) Tomaszewski; devoted grandfather of Jacquelyn, Katelyn, Annalee, Zelda, Kaitlyn, Carter and Kaylee; dearest brother of Daniel (Diane) LaSota; and favorite uncle and great uncle to many nieces and nephews. Also survived by his aunt Marge (nee LaSota) Lechman and several cousins.

A veteran, Ken enlisted with the National Guard in 1962 and served active duty at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri for six months before transferring to the Army National Guard of Illinois as a reservist until August 1968. While in the reserves, Ken and his unit were called into Chicago during the riots following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in April 1968. Ken was a retired carpenter with the Chicago District Council of Carpenters Local 58, formerly Local 181.

In his younger years, Ken loved electronics; he built his first stereo receiver in the late 1960s, and he taught himself programming languages when personal computers became available in the 1980s. He also loved photography, woodworking, gardening, fishing, camping and being in the outdoors. Ken often sat on his patio swing smoking a pipe while observing the wildlife in his backyard – a variety of birds, deer, coyotes and ducks – and all the koi in his fish pond. In retirement, he took up woodturning, creating hundreds of bowls, vases and even lamps. He was a member of the Chicago Woodturners Club. Ken was an avid Chicago Blackhawks fan, he and his family watched many games together over his lifetime. More than anything, Ken loved being surrounded by family. He loved to cook large meals; Thanksgiving was ‘his’ holiday, and he will forever be remembered for his signature stuffing.

Memorials in Ken’s name may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (mda.org); St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org); or the American Legion (legion.org).

Visitation and funeral will be held on Tuesday, November 16, 2021 from 9:00 AM until time of a prayers to begin at 10:15 AM from Willow Funeral Home 1415 W. Algonquin Rd., (one mile west of IL RT. 31) Algonquin and will proceed to St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 111 S. Hubbard St., Algonquin for a Funeral Mass to be Celebrated at 11:00 AM.

Interment with Military Honors will follow at Maryhill Catholic Cemetery, 8600 N. Milwaukee Ave., Niles, IL

***For the health and safety of the family, masks will be required regardless of vaccination status while at the funeral home, church and cemetery.

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