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- [S927] Obituary.
Lila May Self (nee Reetz), 91, passed away peacefully November 28, 2013. She was born May 18, 1922, to William and Frieda Reetz near Fall Leaf, Kansas. Lila met Madison "Al" Self while attending the University of Kansas. They married soon after his graduation and celebrated their 69th anniversary in September 2012. Lila and Al resided in Hinsdale, Illinois since 1966. Lila worked with Al to establish and build a successful business during the early years of their marriage. She also maintained an active interest in community organizations, family genealogy and gardening. Lila had a life-long interest in architecture. She conducted extensive research on the work of R. Harold Zook, a noted Chicago area architect who designed the Self's home in Hinsdale. Lila maintained a lifelong interest in education and leadership development. She and her husband provided endowed funds to support two leadership fellowship programs at their alma mater, the University of Kansas: the Madison "Al" and Lila Self Graduate Fellowship Program for doctoral students and The SELF Engineering Leadership Fellows Program at the School of Engineering for undergraduate students. They also initiated and provided endowed funding to establish the Leadership Academy at the Illinois Institute of Technology for undergraduate students. Lila is preceded in death by her husband, Madison "Al" Self; son, Murray A. Self; and two brothers, Elmer Reetz and Alvin Reetz. Lila is survived by her daughter-in-law, Anne Mueller; two grandsons, Milo and Aran Self; sisters, Katherine Neis and Lorene Cox; an extended family of nieces and nephews; and her long-time caregiver and companion, Helen Pourchot, of Oak Lawn, Illinois. Memorial service will be held Tuesday, December 17, at 1:30 at King-Bruwaert House, 6101 S. County Line Road, Burr Ridge, IL 60527 - 630-323-2250.
Published in a Chicago Tribune Media Group Publication on Dec. 15, 2013
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Lila May Reetz Self
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Birth: May 18, 1922
Fall Leaf
Leavenworth County
Kansas, USA
Death: Nov. 28, 2013
Burr Ridge
DuPage County
Illinois, USA
Lila May Self (nee Reetz), 91, passed away peacefully at the King-Bruwaert House in Burr Ridge, Illinois, on Thursday, November 28, 2013.
Lila was born May 18, 1922, on the family farm north of Eudora, the second eldest daughter of five children to William and Frieda (Schwarz) Reetz.
Lila was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 69 years, Madison ‘Al' Self, their son, Murray A. Self; two brothers, Alvin Reetz and Elmer Reetz; and parents.
Lila loved life and had many friends and family. Her love for family and friends was evident through her beautiful, radiant smiles and acts of kindness. Lila was never at a loss for words and her quick wit and humor was always apparent. In later years. Lila devoted time and care to her beloved mother, Frieda. Her mother spent winters with Lila and Al in Hawaii, Florida, and Arizona, until she passed.
Lila always accompanied her husband, Al, on business trips, traveling to countries around the world and cultivating new friendships. She lived a full and enriching life enjoying interests in the arts, museums, history and family genealogy. Lila spent time researching the 17th century Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer, often traveling to Europe to view the original Vermeer paintings. She also devoted extensive time researching the architect R. Harold Zook from which their home in Hinsdale, Illinois was built and designed in 1929.
Lila graduated from Eudora High School in 1939. She completed the Lawrence Business College entering classes at the University of Kansas, where she met her future husband, Al. On September 1, 1943, Al and Lila were married in York, Pennsylvania.
Lila knew the importance of giving back to her community and alma mater – The University of Kansas. Lila and her late husband, Al, established and endowed funding to create the Madison A. and Lila Self Graduate Fellowship Program for doctoral students, and the SELF Engineering Leadership Fellowship Program. They also endowed funds to establish the Leadership Academy for undergraduate students at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.
Lila is survived by daughter in law, Anne Mueller; two grandsons, Milo and Aran; and two sisters Katherine (Reetz) Neis of Eudora, and Lorene (Reetz) Cox of Linwood. She also leaves an extended family of loving nieces and nephews, and her long time caregiver, Helen Pourchot of Oaklawn, Illinois.
A remembrance service and visitation with the family will be held on Thursday, December 12, 2013, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, Kansas. Visitation will precede from 10-11 am; a remembrance services will follow at 11 am. Burial will be at Lawrence Memorial Park Cemetery.
A memorial service will be held at the King-Bruwaert House, 6101 South County Line Road in Burr Ridge, Illinois on Tuesday, December 17, 2013, at 1:30 pm.
The family suggests memorials to the Eudora Museum Building Fund (Eudora Area Historical Society), or charity of your choice to be sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.
Online condolences may be sent at rumsey-yost.com
Family links:
Parents:
William Adolph Reetz (1890 - 1952)
Frieda Magdalene Schwarz Reetz (1897 - 1991)
Spouse:
Madison Allen Self (1921 - 2013)
Siblings:
Lila May Reetz Self (1922 - 2013)
Alvin William Reetz (1925 - 2013)*
Elmer Frederick Reetz (1926 - 1980)*
Elmer Frederick Reetz (1926 - 1980)*
*Calculated relationship
Burial:
Memorial Park Cemetery
Lawrence
Douglas County
Kansas, USA
Created by: Randy Reetz
Record added: Jul 06, 2014
Find A Grave Memorial# 132403664
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1922 - 2013 (91 years)