JAMES J. KROB, Second President of Westchester Historical Society

Mr. Krob was appointed a member of the Westchester Historical Commission, which led to him becoming the first president of the Westchester Historical Society.  He worked along side of Luella Seida in the Commission.  In that role he was instrumental in arranging for the preservation of the Franzosenbusch Prairie House which contains the first Immanuel Lutheran Church one room school house built in 1853.  The house now referred to as the “Prairie House” was moved from its former location off of 22^nd Street/Cermak Road and Wolf Road to Constitution Drive where it is undergoing renovation and preservation efforts.  The land it now sits on is owned by Save The Prairie.

Mr. Krob, a resident of Downers Grove and formerly a resident of Westchester died May 29, 2007.  He was a mechanical engineer before retiring.

In 1947 he was the Chicago Public League Mile Champion.  During the Korean War he was a lieutenant in the U. S. Army and earned a Purple Heart for his efforts.  He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars North Riverside Post 6869.

Mr. Krob was a graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.  He was an Illinois High School Association track official, a volunteer at the Downers Grove Historical Museum, past president of the Proviso West Booster Club, and a member of the Salt Creek Civil War Round Table and second President of the Westchester Historical Society.

Survivors include his wife, Lorraine; one son, Gregory (Anne); one daughter, Victoria (John) Maciorowski; four grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.  Mr. Krob was preceded in death by his brother, Joseph.

Last Update 9/28/2007