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Serbian Orthodox Cemetery DeKalb, IL USA

May 20, 2020 by Zarevac

Serbian Orthodox Cemetery 

Within Fairview Cemetery, DeKalb, IL USA

And

Serbians in Dekalb County Cemeteries 

Grave Transcript

A full transcript of Serbians and their descendents buried in the Serbian Orthodox section and a partial transcript of other sections of Fairview Cemetery and of Serbians buried in other cemeteries in DeKalb County, IL 

As of June 2019

Updated May 2020

Historical Background 

This is a broad overview of what I’ve been able to find out from family members and historical records. If anyone has any information to add or update, your information would be greatly appreciated. There may be more Serbians and descendents buried in Dekalb County cemeteries as the community was much larger than what is reflected in cemetery burials that I’ve found. 

Many persons of Serbian descent came to Dekalb in the early to mid 1900s from the Balkan and Adriatic Regions of Southeastern Europe. Many of the families came from Lika, Croatia and neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. Some even came from the same villages in the old countries and then later lived in Dekalb near each other. Most of the Serbs lived near each other in their own neighborhoods near Dodge Avenue and Market Street. Although there were also Serbians from Serbia proper, most were from neighboring countries within Austria-Hungary and later Yugoslavia. Most of these Serbians worked in the Steel and Wire Industry, manufacturing, on the railroads, or as general laborers. Once settling permanently in their new country and working towards becoming naturalized citizens, the Serbs in Dekalb established “Gusle” Lodge # 192 of the Serbian National Federation to preserve their heritage and culture. The lodge, along with the Serbian Orthodox Church, were the two main organizations that kept the Serb Diaspora unified and encouraged their cultural preservation. The lodge erected two dedication markers in the cemetery which can still be viewed today in both English and Serbian Cyrillic language. Some of the graves are also inscribed in Cyrillic, but have been transcribed within this document in their English equivalents.

Antjelovich 

  1. Bozo Antjelovich 1898-1918
  2. Nikola Antjelovich 1857-1920

Benderach 

  1. Vaso Benderach 1919-1948

Sergeant, 15th Air Force 

Colovich

  1. Magda Colovich 15 Feb, 1856-3 Mar, 1934

Dotlich

  1. Milan Dotlich 24 Apr, 1878-19 Jul, 1929

Daglas

  1. John Daglas 27 Mar, 1915-7 Mar, 1916

Dujmovich

  1. George Dujmovich 1885-1931

Eror

  1. Milan Eror 15 Apr, 1911-10 Dec, 1982
  2. Mary Eror Tico 13 Sep, 1916-15 Feb, 1988
  3. Soka Eror 1887-1916
  4. Trifun Eror 18 Jan, 1885-22 Oct, 1935
  5. Howard M. Grundy (Husband of Smiljana Eror) 29 Jan, 1922-3 May, 2011
  6. Smiljana Eror Grundy (wife of Howard M. Grundy) 14 Jan, 1915-15 Jul, 1995

Gurovich

  1. George Gurovich 15 Apr, 1917-21 Feb, 1919
  2. Jovo Gurovich 28 Jan, 1888-12 Dec, 1944

Grgich

  1. Lotta Grgich 1886-6 Nov, 1918

Gutesha 

  1. Dan Gutesha 29 Jan, 1885-9 Jan, 1956
  2. Joseph Gutesha 10 Oct, 1914-27 Feb, 1997
  3. Mary Gutesha 28 Aug, 1893-18 Oct, 1972
  4. Michael Gutesha 15 Aug, 1883-2 Nov, 1933
  5. Michael Dimitar Gutesha 6 Apr, 1922-12 Dec, 1992
  6. Sophie Gutesha 10 Sep, 1919-30 Aug, 1961
  7. Infant Gutesha 

 Hinic, Hinich (Enich)

  1. Bude Hinich 1883-1919
  2. George Hinich 23 Apr, 1891-21 Dec, 1972
  3. Yeka Hinich 3 Jun, 1886-8 Dec, 1954
  4. Mane Hinich 1892-1945

Hrnyak (Hrnjak) 

  1. Rade Hrnjak 22 May, 1894-20 Apr, 1954
  2. Danica Hrnjak 27 Jul, 1907-17 Sep, 1963

Jablan

  1. Sako Jablan 1878-1937

Knezovich 

  1. Jovo Knezevich 1882-1912

Komadina 

  1. Andjelija Komadina 10 Apr, 1881-2 Apr, 1965
  2. Dimitar Komadina 1887-1922
  3. Joka Komadina 12 Feb, 1872-2 Oct, 1947
  4. Leonard Komadina 31 Jan, 1911-6 Aug, 1963, Private First Class, Company M, 4th Infantry, WW2
  5. Mary Komadina 1876-1925
  6. Michael Komadina 26 Feb, 1895-13 May, 1971
  7. Mane Komadina 1913
  8. Orila Komadina 1913
  9. Rade Komadina 16 Jun, 1876-22 Apr, 1938
  10. Sophia Komadina 15 Nov, 1931-

Kovacevich 

  1. Ari Kovacevich 3 Jul, 1917-18 Dec, 1992
  2. Ruth Kovacevich 1919-1963
  3. Danilo Kovacevich 15 Sep, 1915-14 Jan, 1916
  4. Bosilka Kovacevich 1913
  5. Milan Kovacevich 21 Nov, 1872-6 Feb, 1940
  6. Todora Kovacevich 1875-1926
  7. Zorka Kovacevich 1911

Kovach (Kovich) 

  1. Danny Kovich 16 Feb, 1921-26 Feb, 2006
  2. George Kovich 4 May, 1916-6 Sep, 1964
  3. John Kovich 6 Jul, 1888-12 Dec, 1954
  4. Marko Kovach 1883-25 Aug, 1959
  5. Mary Kovich 12 Apr, 1912-1 Feb, 2020 
  6. Nick Kovich 1880-1970
  7. Visnja Kovich 1891-1974

Laketa 

  1. Dewey Laketa 13 Feb, 1918-28 Nov, 2007, Private First Class, US Army, WW2
  2. George Laketa 5 May, 1916-5 Aug, 1986
  3. Ilija Laketa 8 Jan, 1887-17 Jan, 1961
  4. Mileva Laketa 11 Aug, 1919-2 Dec, 1924
  5. Michael Laketa 22 Feb, 1928-25 Apr, 1928
  6. Zurza Laketa 23 Feb, 1889-18 May, 1947

Ljubenko 

  1. Sava Ljubenko 1861-1908

Milosevich 

  1. Gaso Milosevich 1888-1908

Milovich 

  1. Milena Milovich 1911-1912
  2. Marian (Marica) Milovich 1908-19 Jan, 1910
  3. Savsta Milovich 16 Jan, 1918-25 Nov, 1920

Miskin

  1. Anna Miskin 1910-1914
  2. Mara Miskin 1910-1914
  3. Mila Miskin 1910-1914
  4. Steve Miskin 1875-13 May, 1954

Negowan 

  1. Dmitar Negowan 1861-1917

Pamucina 

  1. Vojislav Pamucina 1911-1915

Rupar

  1. Obren Rupar 1885-20 Jun, 1963
  2. Ethel (wife of Obren Rupar) 1890-1973

Samardzija 

  1. Mike Samardzija 1919-5 Sep, 1974
  2. Nikola Samardzija 15 May, 1884-1 Feb, 1929

Simich

  1. Jovo Simich 1886-26 Jul, 1979
  2. Rista Simich 11 Feb, 1898-30 Apr, 1994
  3. Savo Simich 31 Dec, 1884-26 Dec, 1936

Soknich

  1. Victor Soknich 12 Jun, 1887-4 Nov, 1966
  2. Vasilija Soknich 30 Jan, 1898-5 Feb, 1977

Stamatovich

  1. Stana Stamatovich 1911-15 Sep, 1915

Sulaver

  1. Joan Sulaver 19 Jan, 1937-6 Jan, 2008
  2. Marie Sulaver 1910-13 Jan, 1960
  3. Mildred Sulaver 22 Jul, 1932-10 Aug, 2016
  4. Mitar Sulaver 22 Oct, 1884-8 Feb, 1974
  5. Steve Sulaver 1889-7 Oct, 1955

Svilar

  1. Ilija (Eli) Svilar 12 Aug, 1883-13 Nov, 1965
  2. Sofija (Sophie) Svilar 14 Oct, 1883-27 Sep, 1974
  3. Amelia Svilar 1908-1910
  4. Militsa Svilar 1910-2 Aug, 1912

Tepovich

  1. Dorothy Tepovich 1916-1955
  2. Helen Tepovich (Wife of Michael) 1890-1969
  3. Michael Tepovich 21 Aug, 1909-9 May, 2000

Private First Class, US Army, WW2

  1. Michael Tepovich 29 Mar, 1881-16 Apr, 1975
  2. Nikola Tepovich 1913
  3. Nikola Tepovich 15 Feb, 1884-25 Apr, 1973

Topich

  1. Mane Topich 5 May, 1890-10 Jul, 1951

Vauslovich

  1. Mile Vauslovich 1872-1906

Vukvich

  1. Spasoje Vukvich 1864-1910

Vukajlovich

  1. Jovan Vukajlovich 18 Jan, 1886-6 Dec, 1968

Vunjak (Vunyak) 

  1. Milka Vunjak 1908-1910

Vukovich

  1. Danilo Vukovich 13 Aug, 1936-25 Apr, 1937
  2. Jovan Vukovich 26 Oct, 1891-25 Apr, 1946
  3. Lata Komadina Vukovich 1912-1971
  4. Marilyn Jean Vukovich Shaffer Davidson (daughter of Jovan and Lata) 27 Aug, 1938-29 Oct, 1972
  5. Saveta Vukovich 1888-1958

Serbian Orthodox buried within other sections of Fairview Cemetery

Bedick

  1. Dorothy Bedick 28 Dec, 1913-30 Mar, 2005

Enich (Hinich, Hinic) 

  1. Michael Hinich 25 May, 1892-22 Oct, 1945
  2. Eli Hinich 30 May, 1913-21 Sep, 2002
  3. Marion Elizabeth Hinich Brennan 1 Oct, 1917-23 Oct, 2014

Gurovich

  1. Chana Gurovich Wilson (wife of Gerald Wilson) 25 Dec, 1914-5 May, 2007
  2. Mary Gurovich McDaniel (wife of Wayland McDaniel) 19 Dec, 1913-8 Nov, 1996

Komadina 

  1. Andjelija Lonchar Komadina (wife of Jovan Komadina) 10 Apr, 1881-2 Apr, 1965
  2. George Komadina 4 May, 1917-16 Dec, 1993
  3. Martha Komadina Pesuth (wife of Matthew Pesuth) 17 Jun, 1918-14 Apr, 2011

Kovach (Kovich) 

  1. Andjelko Kovach 8 Jun, 1912-8 Aug, 1982
  2. Donald Kovach 1946-27 Oct, 1959 (Beloved son of Angello K & Mary (Komadina) Kovach)
  3. Mary Komadina Kovach (wife of Andjelko) 29 Jul, 1915-2 Mar, 2002

Kovacevich 

  1. Ione Kovacevich (wife of John) 18 May, 1918-20 Dec, 1999
  2. John Kovacevich 10 Oct, 1915-13 Jan, 1987, Private First Class, US Army, WW2

Laketa

  1. Helen B. Laketa 1921-1995 (wife of Dewey Laketa)

Pejovich (Peyovich) 

  1. Marie Pejovich McDowell (wife of Quentin McDowell) 9 Sep, 1927-17 Mar, 2017

Svilar 

  1. Anna Svilar Hackburt 1912-1997 (wife of Frederick Hackburt)
  2. Smiljana (Minnie) Svilar Pettersen (wife of Harold Pettersen)  20 Mar, 1909-22 Feb, 2005

Fairview Cemetery

Also known as Fairview Park Cemetery

1600 S 1st St, DeKalb, IL 60115

GPS Coordinates: 41.9094009, -88.7617035

https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/105630/fairview-cemetery

Serbian Orthodox in Dekalb County

Serbian Orthodox buried within other cemeteries in Dekalb County, Illinois 

Dekalb County Cemetery 

126. Milos Opacic 25 Mar, 1911

Elmwood Cemetery

Sycamore, Dekalb County, Illinois 

127. Minnie Hrnjak Edwards (wife of Norman Edwards) 5 Jun, 1929-23 Oct, 2012

Mound Rest Cemetery

Cortland, Dekalb County, Illinois 

128. Bessie Hrnjak Troutman (wife of Robert Troutman) 28 Feb, 1932-28 Nov, 2012

2 Memorial Crosses in the Serbian Section of Fairview Cemetery, Dekalb, IL