Former Mokena SD 159 board member Ventura dies at 48

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Ventura

Updated: February 21, 2012 8:27AM

Funeral services will be Friday for former Mokena School District 159 Board member Frank Ventura, who resigned from the board in September because of ongoing treatment for cancer.

Ventura, 48, died of cancer Monday at his Mokena home. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Kurtz Memorial Chapel, 102 E. Francis Road in New Lenox, followed by a memorial service. Interment will be private.

“Frank was a very astute and conscientious board member. He always came prepared with well-thought-out ideas,” District 159 Supt. Steve Stein said. “His thoughts always revolved around what was best for students. He himself was a great student and poured himself into learning about school finances and curriculum.”

“He always did his homework. He was always on top of things,” said Mary Lou Knoerzer, a District 159 secretary said. “He was a good guy.”

Ventura, a Mokena resident since 1999, was elected to the school board in April 2009.

“His passion for helping the district was second to none,” board President John Troy said.

Ventura, a certified public accountant, decided to run for a school board seat when he realized there was a “financial cloud coming down the road” and thought he could help, Troy said.

Ventura was diagnosed with cancer shortly after his election, but never missed a meeting, even when they were on the same day as his chemotherapy treatments, Troy said.

“He was one of the smartest guys I knew. He had a great sense of humor and was a pleasure to work with,” Troy said.

Ventura previously was a member of the Lincoln-Way Area Special Education District 843 Parents Advisory Committee and Lincoln-Way Area Next Steps Training Team. He had a bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting from the University of Kansas.

Ventura is survived by his children, Frankie and Bridget Ventura,; his parents, Frank and Carol Ventura; and his sister, Susan Gallagher.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society. For more information, call (815) 485-3200 or visit www.kurtzmemorialchapel.com.