Lombard/Villa Park obituaries—June 3

ROBERT BIER JR.
Robert “Bob” Bier Jr, 50, of Lombard. Beloved son of the late Penny Bier, nee Surge, and the late Robert Bier Sr.; loving father of Amber (Greg) Steele and Paul (Taylor) King; grandfather of McKenna; dear brother of Sandi (Mark) Wolski, and Richard (Erin) Bier; fond uncle to Alex, Caleb, and Caraline; pet grandfather of Spanky, Peanut and Arya.
Funeral Services were held Thursday, May 27, at Steuerle Chapel.
Interment Private.

ROBERT L. DARCY
Robert L. Darcy, a retired professor of economics and former resident of Berwyn and Stickney, died May 29th in Wheaton, IL. He was 93.
A graduate of Haley School in Stickney and Morton High School, Cicero, he attended Morton Jr. College and after World War II service received his B.A. degree from Knox College. With further interruption for Korean War service, he went on to earn an M.A. from Indiana University and Ph.D. from the University of Colorado, both in economics.
Dr. Darcy’s military assignments included 12 months as a paratrooper sergeant in the Army of Occupation Japan, 1946-47, and during 1951-53 as 1st Lt. in Psychological Warfare, UN Command, in Japan and Korea. He later gained valuable business experience – and climbed 14,000-foot peaks in the Rocky Mountains – while employed for three years in corporate management in Denver, Colorado.
His academic career included teaching and research at Ohio University, Ohio State University and Colorado State University, where he produced books, articles and research reports in the fields of youth employment, economic education and economic development. The Economic Process was published in 1986. Dr. Darcy’s professional activities also took him to Central America, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the People’s Republic of China on assignments for the World Bank, U.S. Departments of Treasury and Labor, and other agencies.
An enthusiastic tennis player for five decades, he coped in recent years with painful musculoskeletal problems. His personal interests included travel to historic sites such as Machu Pichu in the Peruvian Andes and Petra in Jordan, studies of philosophy and depth psychology, ethics and religion, and writing poetry. In 1999 he completed and donated to Chicago’s Newberry Library a Darcy history tracing his family’s Irish ancestry.
Dr. Darcy’s parents arrived in the western suburbs in the early 1920’s from Nebraska and lived in the Chicago area for many years. Darcy was preceded in death by his father Robert M. (Bob), mother Mabel Marcum Darcy, and brother Bill E. He is survived by his son Timothy; daughters Kathleen, Roberta, Laura; and six grandchildren. Interment is in the family gravesite at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Stickney.
For more information visit www.brustfuneralhome.com or call 888-629-0094.

LOIS A. GOLZ
Lois A. Golz, age 95, of Lombard, died May 25, 2021 at home.
Lois was the beloved mother of LaRue (Bruce) Clauter of Ohio, Kirk Golz of Lombard, Keith (Kathy) Golz of Villa Park, Candy Richardson of Villa Park, Scott (Celeste) of Villa Park, Roxanne (Martin) Tyree of Lombard, and Wade (Jamie) Golz of Villa Park; grandmother of 19: Vincent, Michelle, Amy, Jennifer, Kelly, Jody, Eric, Kristy, Andrea, Paul, Kasey, Del, Heidi, Amanda, Chastain, Sean, Katherine, Cody and Bret; Great-Grandmother of 34: Lilith, Brandon, McKayla, Magdeline, Sydney, Isabella, Charlotte, Hannah, Lucas, Henry, Addison, Emma, Gideon, Elliott, Reese, Michael, Austin, Nora, Logan, Clare, Madelyn, Olivia, August, Grace, Annalise, Raegan, Theodore, Riley, Zachary, June, Eleanor, Hope, Samuel, and the late Johanna; daughter of the late Theodore Ernst and the late Martha Caroline (nee Schutte) Diercks; sister of Bud (Sharon) Diercks of Iowa and Shorty (Lorraine) Diercks. She was preceded in death by five other brothers and sisters. She was loved by many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Friday, May 28, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 300 S. Ardmore, Villa Park. Interment followed at Chapel Hill Gardens West Cemetery, Oakbrook Terrace.
Lois had been a Lombard resident since 1981. She grew up in Iowa and attended high school there. She moved to River Forest and worked at Concordia College. She then worked at Carson Pirie Scott in Lombard from 1971-2006.
Lois was a member of the Dorcas Guild, the Quilting club and the L.W.M.L. at Trinity Lutheran Church Villa Park.
Lois was very close to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to Trinity Lutheran Church, 300 S. Ardmore, Villa Park IL 60181 are appreciated.
Info: www.brustfuneralhome.com or call 888-629-0094.

PATRICIA K. KLUGE
Patricia K. Kluge, age 77, of Villa Park, died June 1, 2021 at Elmhurst Hospital.
Funeral Services Monday, June 7, with a Visitation from 4 p.m. until time of Funeral Service at 6:30 p.m. at Brust Villa Park Funeral Home, 305 S. Princeton Ave., Villa Park. Interment Private.
Info: www.brustfuneralhome.com or call 888-629-0094.

BRIAN J. WALDEN
Brian J. Walden, age 67 of Lombard. Passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family. Brian is the loving husband of 42 years to Linda, nee Naspinski. Loving father of Teri (Ron) Wedel, Brian Walden Jr. and Matthew Walden. Beloved son of the late Virginia and Walter Walden. Proud grandfather of Delia, Donnie, Allie, Connor, Matthew Jr., Cooper and Claire. Dear brother of Terry Walden, Cathy (Mike) Vandercreek, the late Mark (Mary) Walden and the late Kevin Walden. Loving brother-in-law of Alan (Tyria) Naspinski and Kevin Naspinski.
Brian loved his family more than anything and always smiled. He was there to help who ever needed it. He also loved vacations … When he would return, he would always say “There is so much more to see!”
In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org would be appreciated.
Family and friends to gather Saturday, June 12, for 10 a.m. Memorial Mass at Sacred Heart Church 114 S. Elizabeth St., Lombard, IL 60148.
Arrangements by DuPage Cremations, Ltd. and Memorial Chapel 630-293-5200.