George Edward Kloak, 97, of Chicago, passed away on Feb. 23. He was preceded in death by his wife of 71 years, Therese Carroll Kloak, who entered eternal life in 2021.

Funeral services will be held on March 2 at 1 p.m. at Blake Lamb Funeral Home, 4727 W. 103rd Street. Oak Lawn. Interment will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

A celebration of life and memorial for George and Therese will be held on their farm in Carroll County, Indiana on Memorial Day weekend May 27-29.

He is survived by his eight children, David, Richard (Rosemary), John, George (Lizabeth), Mary, Robert, Andrew (Anna), and Michael (Colleen); his fourteen grandchildren, Daniel (Kelly), Kevin (Aileen), Margaret (Bryan Cummins), Bridget, Alexander (Kimberly), Amanda, Peter, Lucie, George III, Lillie, Alexander, Mariana, Mitchell, Cassandra, and Ryan; and his four great-grandchildren, Madison, Emma, Nora and Conor.

He was the beloved son of John and Anna and a devoted brother to Annabelle (Stanley), John (Charlotte and Ann) and Charles (Jacqueline).

George was born in 1925 in East Chicago, IN. and graduated from Washington High School in East Chicago, IN. He served as a corporal in the US Marine Corps 1943-1946 in the South Pacific (Tinian Island to Nagasaki). He graduated from Indiana University on the GI Bill in 1951. During that summer, he met Therese Marie Carroll and married six months later.

They moved to Chicago where George began a 33-year career as a traffic engineer in Streets & Sanitation, and then the Dept of Transportation for the City of Chicago, ultimately achieving the title of Deputy Commissioner. He oversaw the planning and design of the Chicago's Lakeshore Drive S-Curve, access to and from all expressways, and many other vehicle, pedestrian and traffic safety improvements.

He later served for 11 years as Secretary of Transportation for the American Public Works Association until his retirement.

The Kloak family lived in Beverly from 1961 to 1985 on 94th and Damen where George was active in the Beverly Improvement Association and Christ the King School and Parish. George believed in family togetherness, whether it was attending his sons’ basketball games or daughter’s art shows. His eight children attended Quigley South, Br. Rice, Mother McAuley high schools. He never missed an opportunity to be present for his family and supported their many endeavors.

He was a dedicated and loving father. He was especially proud of family and spending time with his wife at their farm in Logansport, IN. Raising his children with his beloved Therese will remain his greatest accomplishment.

George constantly encouraged his children to give their best. He will be sorely missed.