This came up in my memories from 7 years ago. This man was my grade school principal. The obituary was composed by one of his sons. Back when we were in grade school, we thought he was cool and kind. Reading about his life, that was just the tip of the iceberg. Feeling blessed that people like this in my hometown of Geneva, IL helped to shape my life.
RIP Kenneth Payleitner, my kindhearted grade school principal.
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Well done, Dad
July 30, 2011
So I spent the last 24 hours polishing my dad’s obituary. It makes me think about what my kids might write about me someday. He’s gone now. And it’s okay. There was nothing left unsaid. I loved him a lot and he knew it. I was ready. So was he. Here it is.
KENNETH PAYLEITNER 1926 - 2011
PRINCIPAL AT HARRISON STREET SCHOOL FOR 32 YEARS
Kenneth Payleitner made sure school children “sent to see the principal” at Harrison Street School in Geneva, Illinois were more likely to be encouraged than reprimanded. For 32 years, in that role, Mr. Payleitner was not the stereotypical principal of the post-War era. Former students recall the tarantula on his bulletin board, a Chicago Cubs bobble-head on his desk, and earning a piece of candy for bringing him a piece of broken glass from the playground. His kid-friendly approach to education was ahead of its time. Mr. Payleitner was one of the first area educators to reevaluate the idea of labeling any students as “failures” and inaugurated innovative reading programs, D’Nealian handwriting, and hands on science. Each year he treated the well-trained patrol boys and girls to a Cubs game at Wrigley Field. brides at beach
Mr. Payleitner oversaw three major additions to the building in 1953, 1960 and 1968 that took the school from six to 20 classrooms and championed the design of a school library that was a precursor to today’s expansive elementary school resource centers. At his 1985 retirement, that library was named in his honor and he returned regularly to read to the younger students.
Payleitner was born August 13, 1926 and grew up in Racine, Wisconsin graduating from St. Catherine’s High School and attending one semester at Marquette University before entering the military the week of Christmas 1944. In August 1945, he was aboard one of hundreds of troop ships filled with U.S. soldiers crossing the Pacific preparing to invade Japan. Years later Payleitner would reflect how the decision to drop the Atomic bomb effectively ended World War II and ultimately saved untold American and Japanese lives. He served as a sergeant in the Philippines until 1946 where he recalled “pallets of wax-covered uniforms, gas masks, and Army landing vehicles along the beach as far as the eye could see.”
After graduating from Marquette, he married Marguerite Mary Mauel of Beloit, Wisconsin on August 19, 1950. His first teaching assignment in Geneva included splitting time at Fourth Street and Sixth Street Schools. In 1952, he was appointed principal at Harrison and also oversaw Bradley School, a one-room schoolhouse on old Kirk Road that closed in 1964. He earned a Masters degree from NIU in 1960. Long-time Genevans will remember Mr. Payleitner as a junior high football and track coach, high school basketball referee, rec volleyball supervisor, and left fielder for St. Peter’s men’s softball that played under the lights at McKinley Park. He served as president of the Geneva Library Board as well as being active in the Geneva Education Association, Geneva Jaycees and St. Peter’s Men’s Club.
After his retirement, Payleitner taught religious education at St. Patrick’s Church and served as a tutor through Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley. A charter member of the Die Hard Cubs Fan Club, Ken traveled with his wife, Margie, to Mesa, Arizona for spring training for more than ten years. In his retirement years, he also continued his lifelong passion for fishing and enjoyed cheering on his grandkids in golf, tennis, lacrosse, softball, football, baseball, wrestling, bowling, track, volleyball, band and choir.
A skilled carpenter and craftsman, Payleitner built homes on Kansas Street in Geneva and Ninth Avenue in St. Charles, a backyard treefort on Franklin Street in Geneva, as well as cabinets, shelving units, and other items of furniture. For his grandchildren he crafted numerous dollhouses, rocking elephants, wooden games and sandboxes. In 2000, inspired by a visit to Cross Village, Michigan and his strong Catholic Christian faith, he and his grandchildren erected a 20-foot cross on their wooded property.
Mr. Payleitner went to be with the Lord, July 29, 2011. He cherished his role of grandfather introducing himself as “Papa” to anyone he met. Survivors include “Mimi,” his beloved bride of 61 years, four children, Mary Kay (Tim) Coleman of Geneva, Mark (Chris) Payleitner of St. Charles, Jay (Rita) Payleitner of St. Charles, and Sue (Dwight) Curran of Elburn; 11 grandchildren, Katie (Eric) Nelson, Rebecca, Stephanie and Alyssa Payleitner, Alec (Lindsay), Randall (Rachel), Maximilian, Isaac and Rae Anne Payleitner, and Emily and Mackenzie Curran; two great-grandchildren, Cole and Rita Nelson; and a nephew, Gary Pauly of Michigan.
He was predeceased by his parents, Ferdinand and Lillian (Koene) Payleitner, sister and brother-in-law, Carolyn and Donald Pauly, all of Racine, Wisconsin.
Funeral Mass will be held 11:00 am, Saturday, August 6 at St. Patrick’s Church, 408 Cedar Street, St. Charles. Visitation will be held Friday, August 5 from 4 to 8 pm including prayer service and memory sharing at 7 pm and Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 am at Yurs Funeral Home 405 E. Main Street, St. Charles. Memorial gifts may be made to the Mac Attack Fund c/o Fifth Third Bank, Elburn, Illinois.