Joseph Gyuran
Joseph Gyuran, age 88, of Willowbrook. US Navy Veteran / WWII. Beloved husband of Alice. Loving father of Rosalie (Perry Beshoar) Winter, Alice (Gary) Markovas and the late Catherine. Devoted grandfather of Stephanie (Jacob) Macias and great-grandfather of Brandon and Chloe. Dear brother of Anne Miller and the late Agnes Gyuran. Visitation 9-10am Monday April 6th at Hallowell & James Funeral Home, 1025 W. 55th St., Countryside, proceeding to Our Lady of Peace Church for Mass at 10:30am. Interment Queen of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the National Shrine of St. Jude, Claretian Missionaries, 205 W. Monroe Street, Chicago, IL 60680 would be appreciated. Funeral info 708-352-6500
Whenever I smell hamburgers cooking on the grill I think of him. I see him standing there tending the delicacies and sharing a great story. Yesterday I lost my Uncle Joe, my cousins lost their daddy, my mom lost her brother & my aunt lost her husband. It truly has been a difficult day for all of us. While we feel the great loss and it is proper to grieve let us not dwell too long on the sadness. Let us remember the good times we spent together, let us bask in the love we all shared.
My earliest memories of him was during our summer vacations. Every year we would go on vacation, always to the same place. We would all descend on Lynch, KY where my Dad would say “were going to Lynch & watch the grass grow”. My family of 6 & Joes family of 5 along with my aunt Agnes & Grandpa Joe all in the same house. I don’t know how we pulled that off, but it was a great time. We would take trips to Kingdom Come state park & climb the massive ravens’ rock. We would also spend the days at the country club swimming until we were all exhausted. My Dad & Uncle Joe would sit on the screened porch for hours. I guess they were really watching the grass grow.
Every summer at least once and sometimes twice we would all meet at Watseka for the family picnic. What a wonderful time that was. We would all gather everything, but Joe always brought the burgers. You could always find him standing at the grill. He was so easy to talk to. He wanted to know what was going on in your life & he always had the best stories to tell. The picnic always concluded with the great race around the park. I am so glad our families thought it important to get together. It is some of the best memories I have.
The last time I visited Joe & Alice was a business trip in 2008. I was able to drive over from the conference center to their house each night & we shared dinner. I always loved visiting them, it was like a warm blanket on a cold night. Whenever you arrived a hand shake would not do, you would get a big hug. It wasn’t one of those passive hugs you get it was an embrace. He was happy to see me, he loved me and I loved him. We would share a cocktail or two, and spend the evening talking & sharing stories. On the last night I spent the night with them and I had to leave very early in the morning to catch my flight. We said our goodbyes that evening. I was planning to get up & leave quietly in the morning. But to my surprise that morning Joe was up and making me breakfast. We shared breakfast & he was sure to send me off with a big embrace.
I imagine when I get to haven there will be a wonderful smell of burgers cooking on the grill. My uncle Joe will be there with an embrace and a great story.