Michael Ronald “Butch Bologna” Kuta, age 85, beloved husband of Patricia Ann Kuta, nee Knauer; loving father of Jennifer (Daniel) Leahy; proud grandfather of Connon, Madigan and Sean; dear brother of Andrea Adams and Robert Kuta and brother-in-law of Carolyn Mahon, Eugene Knauer and Arminda Damery; fond uncle of 15, great-uncle of 25 and great-great uncle of 26; doting Grandpa to his grand-pup Hunter; and grateful member of the Leahy family.
Mike was proud of his service in the US Army where he was stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado. After he was discharged he worked for General Electric for some time. He then worked at Illinois Bell for about five years, and his title was Number 5 Crossbar Switchman. While at Illinois Bell, he also had a part time job at the Clark Oil station in Lombard. He then opened 3 different Clark stations for the company and soon after Clark hired him as a Territory Manager, where he was responsible for 20 stations. When he left Clark, he opened his own Oak Brook Terrace station as an independent dealer and called it Terrace Gas for Less. It was one of the last full service gas stations in the area! He used to say you sit on your ___ while we pump the gas! After he sold the gas station he invested in two meat stores! He eventually sold the stores and retired as the Purchasing Manager at Luther Village in Arlington Heights.
Mike was dedicated to his country, had a very strong work ethic, was a true entrepreneur, and quite witty! Virtually every individual who knew or met him had a story or encounter that was comical or memorable! He was the king of ‘one liners’ and always joking: as his best friends, Jack and Linda Collier knew all too well!
He had one daughter who he absolutely adored! Mike never failed to miss a Pom Pom competition or football game! Although Jenny begged for a sibling he claimed he couldn’t mess with perfection. To his delight, Jenny found her siblings through marriage and a special bond with her Ali-Pal and close friends!
When Jenny married Dan, Mike knew his daughter would be loved and taken care of forever and with the arrival of each of his grandchildren Mike learned to love in a different, deeper way! He would do anything for Connon, Maddie and Sean – the relationship he had with each of them was unique and special!
Mike loved gardening, collecting coins and stamps, completing crossword puzzles, reading history books, watching MASH and All in the Family (which was literally our family), grocery shopping (he never failed to come home with a food item that said NEW no matter how awful it sounded), helping out at Saint Peter Lutheran Church, playing with his grandchildren, babysitting his grand pup, and spending time with his Pat!
He was well traveled within the United States having visited all states except Alaska, but he especially loved Wisconsin Dells, referring to the Dells as the Polish Riviera. Mike eventually bought a log home and spent his early years of retirement there with Pat.
He’s now reunited with his beautiful bride and likely bowling, drinking a Michelob beer, eating a steak and crab, and thanking God for bringing him to his Heavenly home.
The family will be keeping all services private. Memorial contributions may be made in Mike’s honor to the American Heart Association PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692. Arrangements handled by Gibbons Funeral Home, Elmhurst. 630-832-0018 or www.gibbonsfuneralhome.com