Alfred Julius Petzke

1927—2016

Alfred Julius Petzke, 89, of Rockford, IL, passed away from cancer on Thursday, June 2, 2016, at Serenity House Hospice. He was born March 14, 1927, in South Bend, Indiana, son of Julius and Anna (Schulz) Petzke. After graduating in 1944, from James Whitcomb Riley High School in South Bend, IN, Al served in the U.S. Army Infantry during World War II. Upon leaving the army he attended Valparaiso Technical Institute, graduating in 1949. On May 20, 1950, he married Georgiann May Grabner in South Bend. They went on to have five children and raised them in Rockford, IL. Al worked for most of his career at WTVO from 1953 until his retirement in 1997, starting as a broadcast technician and eventually in the role of Vice-President. He was a long-standing and active member of Mount Olive Lutheran Church, serving as Chairman, Elder and Trustee. Over the years he was involved in many activities in his five children's lives including PTA, Boy Scouts, Indian Guides and Girl Scouts. Al was also an avid tennis player and actively played the sport well into his 80's. He is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Georgiann; five children, Gregory (Liza), Janice (David) Wilcox, Karl (Karin), Mark, and Kathleen (James) Kiriakis; and ten grandchildren, Barbara Wilcox, Kelsey Wilcox (Joseph Nelson), Nicholas Wilcox, Alexander Wilcox, Patrick Wilcox, Sheldon Binicewicz, Tobias Petzke, Dawson Petzke, Nolan Van Dine and Uma Petzke. Additional survivors include his sisters, Elfrieda Kuespert and Annelies (LaMar) Parsons of South Bend, IN. Alfred is preceded in death by his father Julius; mother, Anna; stepmother, Agnes; and brother, Ernst.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 18, at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 2001 N. Alpine Rd., Rockford, IL 61107, with Pastor Kenneth Krause officiating. Visitation will be from 2 to 2:45 p.m. prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Healing Pathways, 3921 E. State St., Rockford, IL 61108, Serenity House Hospice, 1658 S. IL Route 2, Oregon, IL 61061, or Mount Olive Lutheran Church. To share a memory or condolence, visit olsonfh.com.

Published in Rockford Register Star on June 11, 2016

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