Vlade “Walter” Parojcic, 64, of Mount Prospect, who brought skills learned as a craftsman in Yugoslavia to his work in office furniture sales and service in Chicago, died Friday, Sept. 21, of stomach cancer in the VITAS Hospice Center of Alexian Brothers Medical Center, Elk Grove Village. Born and raised on a farm in Bosnia, Mr. Parojcic trained as a cabinetmaker in Croatia. After two unsuccessful attempts by land, he left Yugoslavia–then under communist rule–by sailboat in 1956 and went to a United Nations refugee camp in Italy. From Italy, Mr. Parojcic moved to Canada before joining an older brother in Chicago. He found work in the office supply industry and later founded Reliable Installers, a furniture service company, and VIP Inc., a furniture sales business. He also was a founding partner in a commercial storage company, TPK&L Properties. “He could take an idea and do something with it,” said his wife of 39 years, Joan. Mr. Parojcic donated office supplies to non-profit organizations and often fixed things for friends and neighbors. He also enjoyed growing vegetables. Other survivors include two brothers, Simo and Sekula; two sisters, Sava and Milica; and a daughter, Eve. Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday in Olson/Burke-Sullivan Funeral Home, 6467 N. Northwest Highway, Chicago.
