Lester Ahroon, 76, a retired Kankakee businessman and community leader died Sunday (Dec. 29, 1985.
He was born Nov. 1, 1909, in Baltimore. Md., a son of Carl R. and Jennie AJstrom Ahroon. He married Mary Alice Funk Dec. 28, 1935. Mrs. Funk, a former Central Illinois resident, she survives.
Also surviving are two daughters, Mary Lynne Poole, Providence, R.I. and Martha Montague, Kansas City; one sister, Nancy Jane Mercer, Vero Beach, Fla.; and five grandchildren.
A retired Lieutenant Colonel, Mr. Ahroon served in the Army and also on the U.S. Treasury Department's counsel staff.
In 1945, he moved to Kankakee from Baltimore. From 1945 to 1947, he worked at Air-Auto Insurance Co. He and a partner then purchased a small metal fabrication company called Illinois Fabricators Inc. in Bradley. He retired as company president in 1973. Mr. Ahroon was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal church and served on the vestry for several years, retiring as senior warden. He was a Century member of the Boy Scouts, a member of the Rotary Club, Kankakee YMCA Board of Directors, Elks Club and Country Club, and was active in the United Way.
Mr. Ahroon was a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and graduated with honors from the University of Maryland law school. He was the first chairman of the Kankakee Community College
The Pantagraph
Bloomington, Illinois
02 Jan 1986, Thu
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF LESTER ALLEN AHROON
I was born November 1, 1901 in Baltimore, Maryland where I attended the Baltimore public schools. For the first two years of high school, I attended the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, which was about 10 blocks north of where we lived at 1018 North Calvert St. This is the same high school from which my two older brothers, Richard and Andrew, graduated. At the end of two years, I transferred to another high school called Baltimore City College, so that I could study Latin, which was not offered at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. At that time, some knowledge of Latin was required to enter medical school.
After graduating from City College in 1927, I entered John Hopkins University where I majored in pre-med. While at Hopkins, I did not attain any great distinction in honors or marks, but I did graduate in 1931, which was in the midst of the terrible depression of that time.
As the economic conditions were so bleak, I gave up the idea of going to medical school and decided it would be better if I would look for some other work. However, during the summer of 1931, I could find no work whatsoever, and when Fall came, I decided to go to the night law school of the University of Maryland, which was approximately one and a half miles south of our home on Calvert Street and looked for a job in the daytime.
I really entered law school for want of something better to do, but after several months of study, I became very interested in the law, and I continued at night school for one year. During that time, I was still unable to find a job. So, the next year, I transferred to the day school and took several courses at night to make up for those I had missed by going to night school the first year. At that time, the night school took four years and the day school three years.
Finally in 1934, I graduated from law school with honors. I had As in all my courses, except one. Although my class at law school was not a large one, I graduated first and went out to look for a job in a local law office. However, things were so bad in my own hometown of Baltimore, I was unable to find a law office which would either hire me or let me work for nothing. I was anxious to find some desk space and to have access to an office, but that appeared to be unavailable.
I ended up going back to Washington and was hired as a law clerk at the Treasury Department. On December 28, 1935 the greatest day in my life occurred. I married Mary Alice Funk. In 1939, I resigned from the Treasury and opened a law office in Bloomington, Illinois. My brother, Richard, was there at the time practicing medicine.
Eventually, I was called to active duty in Baltimore and moved my family to an apartment on Roland Avenue. In the fall of 1943, I was sent to a fiscal military government school at Duke University. In 1944, I was transferred to the Military Government School at Ft. Custer, Michigan. After completing this school, I was sent overseas.
After the war, I joined up with Robert Hawker, a farm boy to put up money to invest in Illinois Fabricators. The factory became successful until I sold out to Hawker in 1973. We had 80 employees and were doing a business of approximately two million dollars a year. After my retirement, I became interested in miniature furniture and doll houses, which I made, not for sale, but for the persons I love. I played golf, but poorly.
Contributor: K Ahroon (47781598) • [email protected]
He was born Nov. 1, 1909, in Baltimore. Md., a son of Carl R. and Jennie AJstrom Ahroon. He married Mary Alice Funk Dec. 28, 1935. Mrs. Funk, a former Central Illinois resident, she survives.
Also surviving are two daughters, Mary Lynne Poole, Providence, R.I. and Martha Montague, Kansas City; one sister, Nancy Jane Mercer, Vero Beach, Fla.; and five grandchildren.
A retired Lieutenant Colonel, Mr. Ahroon served in the Army and also on the U.S. Treasury Department's counsel staff.
In 1945, he moved to Kankakee from Baltimore. From 1945 to 1947, he worked at Air-Auto Insurance Co. He and a partner then purchased a small metal fabrication company called Illinois Fabricators Inc. in Bradley. He retired as company president in 1973. Mr. Ahroon was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal church and served on the vestry for several years, retiring as senior warden. He was a Century member of the Boy Scouts, a member of the Rotary Club, Kankakee YMCA Board of Directors, Elks Club and Country Club, and was active in the United Way.
Mr. Ahroon was a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and graduated with honors from the University of Maryland law school. He was the first chairman of the Kankakee Community College
The Pantagraph
Bloomington, Illinois
02 Jan 1986, Thu
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF LESTER ALLEN AHROON
I was born November 1, 1901 in Baltimore, Maryland where I attended the Baltimore public schools. For the first two years of high school, I attended the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, which was about 10 blocks north of where we lived at 1018 North Calvert St. This is the same high school from which my two older brothers, Richard and Andrew, graduated. At the end of two years, I transferred to another high school called Baltimore City College, so that I could study Latin, which was not offered at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. At that time, some knowledge of Latin was required to enter medical school.
After graduating from City College in 1927, I entered John Hopkins University where I majored in pre-med. While at Hopkins, I did not attain any great distinction in honors or marks, but I did graduate in 1931, which was in the midst of the terrible depression of that time.
As the economic conditions were so bleak, I gave up the idea of going to medical school and decided it would be better if I would look for some other work. However, during the summer of 1931, I could find no work whatsoever, and when Fall came, I decided to go to the night law school of the University of Maryland, which was approximately one and a half miles south of our home on Calvert Street and looked for a job in the daytime.
I really entered law school for want of something better to do, but after several months of study, I became very interested in the law, and I continued at night school for one year. During that time, I was still unable to find a job. So, the next year, I transferred to the day school and took several courses at night to make up for those I had missed by going to night school the first year. At that time, the night school took four years and the day school three years.
Finally in 1934, I graduated from law school with honors. I had As in all my courses, except one. Although my class at law school was not a large one, I graduated first and went out to look for a job in a local law office. However, things were so bad in my own hometown of Baltimore, I was unable to find a law office which would either hire me or let me work for nothing. I was anxious to find some desk space and to have access to an office, but that appeared to be unavailable.
I ended up going back to Washington and was hired as a law clerk at the Treasury Department. On December 28, 1935 the greatest day in my life occurred. I married Mary Alice Funk. In 1939, I resigned from the Treasury and opened a law office in Bloomington, Illinois. My brother, Richard, was there at the time practicing medicine.
Eventually, I was called to active duty in Baltimore and moved my family to an apartment on Roland Avenue. In the fall of 1943, I was sent to a fiscal military government school at Duke University. In 1944, I was transferred to the Military Government School at Ft. Custer, Michigan. After completing this school, I was sent overseas.
After the war, I joined up with Robert Hawker, a farm boy to put up money to invest in Illinois Fabricators. The factory became successful until I sold out to Hawker in 1973. We had 80 employees and were doing a business of approximately two million dollars a year. After my retirement, I became interested in miniature furniture and doll houses, which I made, not for sale, but for the persons I love. I played golf, but poorly.
Contributor: K Ahroon (47781598) • [email protected]
Lester Ahroon, 76, a retired Kankakee businessman and community leader died Sunday (Dec. 29, 1985.
He was born Nov. 1, 1909, in Baltimore. Md., a son of Carl R. and Jennie AJstrom Ahroon. He married Mary Alice Funk Dec. 28, 1935. Mrs. Funk, a former Central Illinois resident, she survives.
Also surviving are two daughters, Mary Lynne Poole, Providence, R.I. and Martha Montague, Kansas City; one sister, Nancy Jane Mercer, Vero Beach, Fla.; and five grandchildren.
A retired Lieutenant Colonel, Mr. Ahroon served in the Army and also on the U.S. Treasury Department's counsel staff.
In 1945, he moved to Kankakee from Baltimore. From 1945 to 1947, he worked at Air-Auto Insurance Co. He and a partner then purchased a small metal fabrication company called Illinois Fabricators Inc. in Bradley. He retired as company president in 1973. Mr. Ahroon was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal church and served on the vestry for several years, retiring as senior warden. He was a Century member of the Boy Scouts, a member of the Rotary Club, Kankakee YMCA Board of Directors, Elks Club and Country Club, and was active in the United Way.
Mr. Ahroon was a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and graduated with honors from the University of Maryland law school. He was the first chairman of the Kankakee Community College
The Pantagraph
Bloomington, Illinois
02 Jan 1986, Thu
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF LESTER ALLEN AHROON
I was born November 1, 1901 in Baltimore, Maryland where I attended the Baltimore public schools. For the first two years of high school, I attended the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, which was about 10 blocks north of where we lived at 1018 North Calvert St. This is the same high school from which my two older brothers, Richard and Andrew, graduated. At the end of two years, I transferred to another high school called Baltimore City College, so that I could study Latin, which was not offered at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. At that time, some knowledge of Latin was required to enter medical school.
After graduating from City College in 1927, I entered John Hopkins University where I majored in pre-med. While at Hopkins, I did not attain any great distinction in honors or marks, but I did graduate in 1931, which was in the midst of the terrible depression of that time.
As the economic conditions were so bleak, I gave up the idea of going to medical school and decided it would be better if I would look for some other work. However, during the summer of 1931, I could find no work whatsoever, and when Fall came, I decided to go to the night law school of the University of Maryland, which was approximately one and a half miles south of our home on Calvert Street and looked for a job in the daytime.
I really entered law school for want of something better to do, but after several months of study, I became very interested in the law, and I continued at night school for one year. During that time, I was still unable to find a job. So, the next year, I transferred to the day school and took several courses at night to make up for those I had missed by going to night school the first year. At that time, the night school took four years and the day school three years.
Finally in 1934, I graduated from law school with honors. I had As in all my courses, except one. Although my class at law school was not a large one, I graduated first and went out to look for a job in a local law office. However, things were so bad in my own hometown of Baltimore, I was unable to find a law office which would either hire me or let me work for nothing. I was anxious to find some desk space and to have access to an office, but that appeared to be unavailable.
I ended up going back to Washington and was hired as a law clerk at the Treasury Department. On December 28, 1935 the greatest day in my life occurred. I married Mary Alice Funk. In 1939, I resigned from the Treasury and opened a law office in Bloomington, Illinois. My brother, Richard, was there at the time practicing medicine.
Eventually, I was called to active duty in Baltimore and moved my family to an apartment on Roland Avenue. In the fall of 1943, I was sent to a fiscal military government school at Duke University. In 1944, I was transferred to the Military Government School at Ft. Custer, Michigan. After completing this school, I was sent overseas.
After the war, I joined up with Robert Hawker, a farm boy to put up money to invest in Illinois Fabricators. The factory became successful until I sold out to Hawker in 1973. We had 80 employees and were doing a business of approximately two million dollars a year. After my retirement, I became interested in miniature furniture and doll houses, which I made, not for sale, but for the persons I love. I played golf, but poorly.
Contributor: K Ahroon (47781598) • [email protected]
He was born Nov. 1, 1909, in Baltimore. Md., a son of Carl R. and Jennie AJstrom Ahroon. He married Mary Alice Funk Dec. 28, 1935. Mrs. Funk, a former Central Illinois resident, she survives.
Also surviving are two daughters, Mary Lynne Poole, Providence, R.I. and Martha Montague, Kansas City; one sister, Nancy Jane Mercer, Vero Beach, Fla.; and five grandchildren.
A retired Lieutenant Colonel, Mr. Ahroon served in the Army and also on the U.S. Treasury Department's counsel staff.
In 1945, he moved to Kankakee from Baltimore. From 1945 to 1947, he worked at Air-Auto Insurance Co. He and a partner then purchased a small metal fabrication company called Illinois Fabricators Inc. in Bradley. He retired as company president in 1973. Mr. Ahroon was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal church and served on the vestry for several years, retiring as senior warden. He was a Century member of the Boy Scouts, a member of the Rotary Club, Kankakee YMCA Board of Directors, Elks Club and Country Club, and was active in the United Way.
Mr. Ahroon was a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and graduated with honors from the University of Maryland law school. He was the first chairman of the Kankakee Community College
The Pantagraph
Bloomington, Illinois
02 Jan 1986, Thu
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF LESTER ALLEN AHROON
I was born November 1, 1901 in Baltimore, Maryland where I attended the Baltimore public schools. For the first two years of high school, I attended the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, which was about 10 blocks north of where we lived at 1018 North Calvert St. This is the same high school from which my two older brothers, Richard and Andrew, graduated. At the end of two years, I transferred to another high school called Baltimore City College, so that I could study Latin, which was not offered at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. At that time, some knowledge of Latin was required to enter medical school.
After graduating from City College in 1927, I entered John Hopkins University where I majored in pre-med. While at Hopkins, I did not attain any great distinction in honors or marks, but I did graduate in 1931, which was in the midst of the terrible depression of that time.
As the economic conditions were so bleak, I gave up the idea of going to medical school and decided it would be better if I would look for some other work. However, during the summer of 1931, I could find no work whatsoever, and when Fall came, I decided to go to the night law school of the University of Maryland, which was approximately one and a half miles south of our home on Calvert Street and looked for a job in the daytime.
I really entered law school for want of something better to do, but after several months of study, I became very interested in the law, and I continued at night school for one year. During that time, I was still unable to find a job. So, the next year, I transferred to the day school and took several courses at night to make up for those I had missed by going to night school the first year. At that time, the night school took four years and the day school three years.
Finally in 1934, I graduated from law school with honors. I had As in all my courses, except one. Although my class at law school was not a large one, I graduated first and went out to look for a job in a local law office. However, things were so bad in my own hometown of Baltimore, I was unable to find a law office which would either hire me or let me work for nothing. I was anxious to find some desk space and to have access to an office, but that appeared to be unavailable.
I ended up going back to Washington and was hired as a law clerk at the Treasury Department. On December 28, 1935 the greatest day in my life occurred. I married Mary Alice Funk. In 1939, I resigned from the Treasury and opened a law office in Bloomington, Illinois. My brother, Richard, was there at the time practicing medicine.
Eventually, I was called to active duty in Baltimore and moved my family to an apartment on Roland Avenue. In the fall of 1943, I was sent to a fiscal military government school at Duke University. In 1944, I was transferred to the Military Government School at Ft. Custer, Michigan. After completing this school, I was sent overseas.
After the war, I joined up with Robert Hawker, a farm boy to put up money to invest in Illinois Fabricators. The factory became successful until I sold out to Hawker in 1973. We had 80 employees and were doing a business of approximately two million dollars a year. After my retirement, I became interested in miniature furniture and doll houses, which I made, not for sale, but for the persons I love. I played golf, but poorly.
Contributor: K Ahroon (47781598) • [email protected]
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