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In Memory of Kenneth McLearen (September 1, 1951 - August 15, 2019).
Ken was born and raised in Chicago by the late Robert and Luella. Ken was a loving husband to Sheila, a father to Shannon (Brandon) and Kenny (Elise), a grandfather-"Pa"-to Jason, Bailey, Livy, and Jordy, a brother to Tom, Butch (late Aynne) and Pam (David), a brother-in-law to Jack (Felicia), Wai (late Wan), and Lin Yee (Keith), an uncle, friend and loved one to many.
Just weeks before Ken's 68th birthday, we lost his loving heart and smile. He will be remembered for his unsurpassed quick wit and sense of humor.

Ken's life was full of love and life and music. Ken played the guitar and sang for a number of bands (Destination Soul, Underground Love Company, and Weekend Warriors) in the '60s, '70s, and '80s. He was a St. Rita High School graduate of '69. Ken and Sheila have been married for 45 years, with a daughter Shannon and son Kenny. Shannon blessed Ken with four beautiful grandchildren. Kenny carries on Ken's guitar talent (and name).


In March of 1998, the McLearen family's life changed forever. Ken suffered from a massive stroke which paralyzed him for a month. The stroke affected Ken's cognitive functionality indefinitely, and he remained weak on his right side even after recovery. The hospital wanted to perform brain surgery on Ken to stop the internal bleeding in his brain, with the understanding that it would cause him to become incapacitated. Sheila made the decision to not have the surgery as that would have completely removed any quality of life from Ken.
The McLearen fighting Irish continued to fight.
Through endless medical bills, prescriptions, and continued health battles, Sheila remained strong and the main provider for the family. Due to Ken's pre-existing health conditions, there was no life insurance policy opened in his name. The policy was too expensive to afford for the McLearen family with all of the other medical bills and living expenses.
Ken was forever impacted by his stroke. He could no longer work at his current job because of his cognitive functionality and weakness in his right arm. Years later, after recovery, Ken followed one of his other loves (drinking) and became a favored bartender at the Amvets Post 192 in Bridgeview. But, he could no longer play the guitar and spread his love of music. He could no longer play his favorite sport of golf. He lost his drive for life-the life he and Sheila made. Throughout thick and thin, Sheila and the family stood by Ken's side. The family was forever impacted by Ken's stroke. Sheila was now raising her children alone, and they would never know the man Sheila fought so hard for.

The last eight months, Ken and his family have suffered immensely. Thanksgiving of 2018, Ken suffered a bout of pneumonia. He spent the holiday in the hospital and was later diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Ken grew weak in the hospital and was slightly immobile for months. He was transferred to a rehab facility where he was extremely uncomfortable and poorly cared for. Sheila opted to remove Ken from the rehab and bring him home. With at-home physical therapy and perseverance, Ken started to gain strength again. In February of 2019, Ken fell and broke his ankle. After the cast was removed in March, Ken continued to fight on and was walking with a walker, able to get around. The day after Easter, Ken suffered another stroke which left his entire right side paralyzed. Ken spent a little over 6 weeks in the hospital, being monitored for his heart, his kidney, and brain. Ken was finally relieved when he was able to go home in June.
In early July, Ken suffered from a heart attack. The doctors performed surgery to insert 3 heart splints to clear the blockages in Ken's heart. The surgery did not improve Ken's condition, and the doctors suggested putting Ken in a nursing home. Once again, Sheila came to Ken's side and took him home (where he wanted to be) to take care of him.
Throughout all of Ken's illness, Sheila continued to fight for herself and her family, and her unconditional love for Ken. She has osteoarthritis in her knees and has difficulty walking. Despite her condition and age (past retirement), she still works a full-time job, takes care of her four grandchildren on a regular basis, and was Ken's caregiver and "nurse" for all these years. In 2002, Sheila's mother (and best friend), Ida, moved in with the family to help out. Late 2014, Ida was diagnosed with lung cancer.
Sheila continued to be the caretaker for Ken, her grandchildren, and now her mother. In October 2016, Ida passed away leaving Sheila heartbroken. The stress in Sheila's life compounded, and she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in early 2018. This news also erases Sheila's chances of getting knee replacements, as her heart is weak. Due to limited financial means, Sheila was unable to hire in-home healthcare to assist Ken in his final weeks. She took a leave of absence from work for her own health, in order to take care of her love, Ken.
On August 15, 2019, Ken lost his long fight to high blood pressure and stroke and his traumatic last months with the added diagnosis of congestive heart failure, kidney failure, and diabetes. And the McLearen family lost Ken for the second time.
Ken played the lottery every day since the lottery started in 1974. He even carried around the first ticket he purchased in his wallet. As Irish luck would have it, Ken never won the actual lotto. But, he sure did win the lottery when he married Sheila and made a family.
In Ken's wake, please consider donating to help Ken's family pay for years of medical bills, the funeral costs, and living assistance. It is with sincere gratitude that the McLearen family thanks you.

The McLearen fighting Irish keep fighting.
Ken was born and raised in Chicago by the late Robert and Luella. Ken was a loving husband to Sheila, a father to Shannon (Brandon) and Kenny (Elise), a grandfather-"Pa"-to Jason, Bailey, Livy, and Jordy, a brother to Tom, Butch (late Aynne) and Pam (David), a brother-in-law to Jack (Felicia), Wai (late Wan), and Lin Yee (Keith), an uncle, friend and loved one to many.
Just weeks before Ken's 68th birthday, we lost his loving heart and smile. He will be remembered for his unsurpassed quick wit and sense of humor.
Ken's life was full of love and life and music. Ken played the guitar and sang for a number of bands (Destination Soul, Underground Love Company, and Weekend Warriors) in the '60s, '70s, and '80s. He was a St. Rita High School graduate of '69. Ken and Sheila have been married for 45 years, with a daughter Shannon and son Kenny. Shannon blessed Ken with four beautiful grandchildren. Kenny carries on Ken's guitar talent (and name).

In March of 1998, the McLearen family's life changed forever. Ken suffered from a massive stroke which paralyzed him for a month. The stroke affected Ken's cognitive functionality indefinitely, and he remained weak on his right side even after recovery. The hospital wanted to perform brain surgery on Ken to stop the internal bleeding in his brain, with the understanding that it would cause him to become incapacitated. Sheila made the decision to not have the surgery as that would have completely removed any quality of life from Ken.
The McLearen fighting Irish continued to fight.
Through endless medical bills, prescriptions, and continued health battles, Sheila remained strong and the main provider for the family. Due to Ken's pre-existing health conditions, there was no life insurance policy opened in his name. The policy was too expensive to afford for the McLearen family with all of the other medical bills and living expenses.
Ken was forever impacted by his stroke. He could no longer work at his current job because of his cognitive functionality and weakness in his right arm. Years later, after recovery, Ken followed one of his other loves (drinking) and became a favored bartender at the Amvets Post 192 in Bridgeview. But, he could no longer play the guitar and spread his love of music. He could no longer play his favorite sport of golf. He lost his drive for life-the life he and Sheila made. Throughout thick and thin, Sheila and the family stood by Ken's side. The family was forever impacted by Ken's stroke. Sheila was now raising her children alone, and they would never know the man Sheila fought so hard for.
The last eight months, Ken and his family have suffered immensely. Thanksgiving of 2018, Ken suffered a bout of pneumonia. He spent the holiday in the hospital and was later diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Ken grew weak in the hospital and was slightly immobile for months. He was transferred to a rehab facility where he was extremely uncomfortable and poorly cared for. Sheila opted to remove Ken from the rehab and bring him home. With at-home physical therapy and perseverance, Ken started to gain strength again. In February of 2019, Ken fell and broke his ankle. After the cast was removed in March, Ken continued to fight on and was walking with a walker, able to get around. The day after Easter, Ken suffered another stroke which left his entire right side paralyzed. Ken spent a little over 6 weeks in the hospital, being monitored for his heart, his kidney, and brain. Ken was finally relieved when he was able to go home in June.
In early July, Ken suffered from a heart attack. The doctors performed surgery to insert 3 heart splints to clear the blockages in Ken's heart. The surgery did not improve Ken's condition, and the doctors suggested putting Ken in a nursing home. Once again, Sheila came to Ken's side and took him home (where he wanted to be) to take care of him.
Throughout all of Ken's illness, Sheila continued to fight for herself and her family, and her unconditional love for Ken. She has osteoarthritis in her knees and has difficulty walking. Despite her condition and age (past retirement), she still works a full-time job, takes care of her four grandchildren on a regular basis, and was Ken's caregiver and "nurse" for all these years. In 2002, Sheila's mother (and best friend), Ida, moved in with the family to help out. Late 2014, Ida was diagnosed with lung cancer.
Sheila continued to be the caretaker for Ken, her grandchildren, and now her mother. In October 2016, Ida passed away leaving Sheila heartbroken. The stress in Sheila's life compounded, and she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in early 2018. This news also erases Sheila's chances of getting knee replacements, as her heart is weak. Due to limited financial means, Sheila was unable to hire in-home healthcare to assist Ken in his final weeks. She took a leave of absence from work for her own health, in order to take care of her love, Ken.
On August 15, 2019, Ken lost his long fight to high blood pressure and stroke and his traumatic last months with the added diagnosis of congestive heart failure, kidney failure, and diabetes. And the McLearen family lost Ken for the second time.
Ken played the lottery every day since the lottery started in 1974. He even carried around the first ticket he purchased in his wallet. As Irish luck would have it, Ken never won the actual lotto. But, he sure did win the lottery when he married Sheila and made a family.
In Ken's wake, please consider donating to help Ken's family pay for years of medical bills, the funeral costs, and living assistance. It is with sincere gratitude that the McLearen family thanks you.
The McLearen fighting Irish keep fighting.