Walter F. Vegrzyn

OTTAWA – Walter F. Vegrzyn, age 78, of Ottawa, passed away Wednesday, February 22, 2017 at Ottawa Pavilion.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Monday, February 27, 2017 at Gladfelter Funeral Home with Pastor Sherry Stevenson officiating.  Burial will follow in Oakwood Memorial Park.  Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. till 7:00 p.m. Sunday evening at the funeral home.

Walter was born December 5, 1938 in La Salle, Illinois, the son of Walter and Frances Rose (Debosik) Vegrzyn.  He married Nancy Goodbred August 2, 1958 in Oglesby.  Surviving are his wife of 58 years, Nancy, of Ottawa; his children, Lou Ann (Jim) Moore of St. Louis, William James (Lisa) Vegrzyn of Hanover Park, and John David (Melanie) Vegrzyn of Sandwich; grandchildren, Mandy (Aaron) Moore-Roberson, Sarah (Adam) Hobler, Jessica Moore, and J.T., Mike, Maddie, Danielle, Jared, Ryan, and Emily Vegrzyn; great grandchildren, Lincoln, Addie, Will, Reagan, and Carrie; and a sister, Frances Ann (Kurt) Schoening of Rockford.  He was preceded in death by one son, Timothy Walter Vegrzyn and one grandson, Jonathan Walter Vegrzyn.

Walter was a graduate of the University of Illinois, graduating with his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering.  He was president and co-owner of Vegrzyn, Sarver and Associates, Inc.  Other affiliations included the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce of which he served as president in 1989; the Illinois Professional Land Surveyor Association, and the Northern Illinois Industrial Development Corporation of which he was a service award recipient.  As project engineer with the Illinois Department of Transportation from 1960 to 1973, Walt supervised design squads and consultants retained by the state and planned millions of dollars of improvements such as bridges, rural highways, interstate highways and urban streets.  From 1968 to 1973, along with his state work, Walt had a surveying and engineering business.  He completed more than 150 projects during that time, doing city engineering work, farm and city surveys, subdivisions and drainage district projects.  He was a registered land surveyor and a licensed professional engineer.  Walter was a member of Crossbridge Community Church of Ottawa as well as the Ottawa Boat Club.  He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather.  His grandchildren affectionately called him “Super Papa”.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Crossbridge Community Church.

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