Anton Konecny, age 86 of Oak Brook, formerly of Berwyn, IL, died on December 6, 2003 at his daughter’s home in Oak Brook. Devoted husband of Marie Vilma Konency, nee Sedivy; loving father of M. Anita (Donald) Shotola; and cherished grandfather of Jon Josef Shotola. Joseph was born in Cary, IL, attended Morton High School and Junior College and graduated from the Univ. of Illinois – Urbana with a degree in Chemical Engineering. In 1939 he was employed by Union Carbide Corp. (Visking Div.). In 1941, he was called to serve his country during WW II. As a squadron engineering officer (aircraft service) of the 81st Troop Carrier Squadron, 436 T.C. Group, he participated in the D-Day invasion at Normandy. From Membury Field near Swindon, England the 81st T.C. flew Douglas built C-47’s on paratrooper jumps, glider tows, equipment drops and resupply missions over the English Channel. After Normandy and the Battle of Northern France, the 81st relocated to a captured German airfield near Melum, France for the duration of the war. In 1946 he returned to Union Carbide as a manager in the cellulose technology dept. while continuing in the Air Force ready reserves. After his retirement in 1978 he joined the board of directors of Chateau Food Products, Cicero, IL and became a director and officer of TROA. Continuing his life of public service and dedication to education, he was chairman of the Retirement Activities Committee of the 928th Airlift Wing at O’Hare Airport, assisted Seniors in tax prep. at the Cicero-Berwyn Council on Aging, supported the Morton H.S. Scholarship League, and was a judge for 10 years at student science fairs in the Chicago metro area. Visitation and memorial service: Wednesday, December 10, 2003, 9 to 11 a.m. at the Marik and Sons Funeral Home, 6507 W. Cermak Rd. Berwyn, IL. Interment at Woodlawn Cemetery, North Riverside, IL. Memorials may made to the Morton Scholarship League: 2343 S. Austin, Cicero, IL 60804. For information, 708-484-6310 or www.mem.com.
