SYCAMORE – By 11 a.m. Sunday, more than 80 people had already signed the guest book and paid their respects at the visitation of former Sycamore Mayor Ken Mundy.
The service was held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, with the funeral at 4 p.m. There, friends, family and acquaintances took this opportunity to say a final goodbye to a beloved influence on the Sycamore and DeKalb communities.
“He really cared for his community,” the Rev. Timothy Frick said. The pastor now resides in Genoa but said he spent his childhood looking up to Mundy. “He showed he cared. It wasn’t just talk.”
Echoes of this sentiment could be heard throughout the church halls. Mundy’s love for his family and community was displayed just inside the church doors. Photos, certificates and awards, and special articles of clothing, such as his sailor cap, were open to viewing for those waiting to pay their respects to the family.
“He was just a super great, nice guy,” Linda Chomiak said as she looked over the displays. Chomiak is the first cousin of Mundy’s wife, Juanita. “He’d do anything for anybody, was always helping everyone. He was all about service. He served his city, his church – he was just always doing for others.”
Service was a central theme in Mundy’s life. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1966, during the Vietnam War, serving as a radar operator. Mundy received an honorable discharge four years later, and returned to his hometown of Sycamore with his family. After the birth of his second daughter, Mundy served as treasurer of the Sycamore Library Board and on the Sycamore fire and police pension boards.
Mundy died Tuesday after a battle with throat cancer.
Members of Sycamore’s police force and fire department were both notable presences at the visitation.
“I knew him because he was mayor, yes, but before that I knew him through veterans functions,” Sycamore Fire Chief Pete Polarek said. “He was a great person, a great leader, a friend of the public safety organizations, and a great cheerleader for the city of Sycamore.”
Mundy was elected city treasurer in 1981 and then mayor in 2005. He retired in 2017 after 48 years of public service.
“It was a pleasure to work with Ken Mundy,” said Ray Puentes, who has been involved in city affairs for 25 years. Puentes currently serves as chairman of Sycamore’s Board of Business. “The thing I like best about Ken was how much he cared for the city. That’s the best thing you can do for the community.”
The afternoon funeral was officiated by the Rev. Paul Mumme and the Rev. Charles Ridulph, and attended by between 300 to 500 people.
As an honorably discharged veteran, Mundy received full military honors.
Source: The Daily Chronicle
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