Col. Ferdinand S. Aramovich

COLONEL FERDINAND S. ARAMOVICH, USMC ret.

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Col. Ferdinand Stanley Aramovich, 88, passed away Thursday, December 31, 2009, in OSF St. Anthony Medical Center. He was born May 30, 1921, in Rockford, the son of Michael and Katherine (Palubaitis) Aramovich. Ferd graduated from Harlem High School in 1939, where he earned 12 varsity letters in football, basketball, and track. He attended the University of Illinois on an athletic scholarship, interrupting his education in 1942, to join the Marine Corps and proudly served his country during WWII in China after the war and again in Korea. He was a member of The Chosen Few, survivors of the Chosin Reservoir Conflict. Ferd completed his Bachelors degree in 1946, at University of Illinois and he married Elizabeth Joyce Erb on October 23, 1947, in Rockford. He owned and operated The Optical Center, which began in downtown Rockford from 1952 thru 1977, and continues in operation by his son, Mike, under the name of 20/20 Optical Center. Ferd was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church. He was also a member of the Elks Club, Kiwanis Club, Knights of Columbus and the Downtown Businessmens Association. He was active in community service as a member of OSF St. Anthony Medical Center Board, Rockford Art Museum Board, the Pioneer Life Insurance Co. Board of Directors, and as an officer and board member of the American Small Business Association.

Survived by his wife, Joyce; children, Michael (Marcia) of Rockford, Diane Wieland of Mondovi, WI, Lynn (John) Larkin of Loves Park, Susan (Scott) Burbank of Homer, AK, John (Francie) of Evergreen, CO, and David (Molly) of Overland Park, KS; twelve grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and four nieces and one nephew. Predeceased by his parents; 2 brothers, Harold and Leopold, and a sister, Polly.

Funeral Mass will be 10am, Friday, January 8, 2010, in Holy Family Catholic Church, 4401 Highcrest Rd. Rockford, IL 61107. Visitation from 4:30pm until 6:30pm, Thursday, January 7, 2010, at Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Rd. Rockford, IL 61108, and from 9am until 9:45am, at the church, on Friday. Burial in Calvary Catholic Cemetery at a later date. Memorials may be made to Northern Illinois Hospice and Grief Center, 4215 Newburg Rd. Rockford, IL 61108, OSF St. Anthony Medical Center, 5666 E. State St. Rockford, IL 61108, or charity of donors choice . Send online condolences to www.fitzgeraldfh.com