About Us

Thaddeus M. Larkowski – Owner/Funeral Director

Ted graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science (Chicago) in 1964.  He served his apprenticeship at Wenban Funeral Home and continued with the funeral home until 1967.  He left Wenban Funeral Home in 1967 to pursue an opportunity to purchase a funeral home in Chicago, which he owned and operated from 1967 until 1976.  Ted rejoined Wenban Funeral Home in 1976 and together with his current business partner James V. Iacubino purchased the funeral home from George “Sonny” Wenban, Jr.  

Ted has served on both the Northeastern Illinois Funeral Directors Association as President from 1990 until 1992 and The Illinois Funeral Directors Association Legislative and Political Action Committee from 1992 to 1993.   In June of 2005 Ted received the Distinctive Service Award from the Illinois Funeral Directors Association in recognition of more than forty years of honorable service to the funeral profession.

Ted enjoys spending time with his wife Terri, sons Ted, Tim and Troy and his nine grandchildren.

Jim is a member of an early, settling family on the Far Southside of Chicago in the neighborhood of Roseland.  Jim and his wife Dorothy moved to Lake Forest in 1970 shortly after they were married.  They raised their two children, Tony and Anne in Lake Forest and are still residents of Lake Forest.

Jim attended the Mortuary Science School at Southern Illinois University and completed his professional education at Worsham College of Mortuary Science (Chicago) in 1969.  He began his professional career at Wenban Funeral Home working for the founder’s grandson, George “Sonny” Wenban, Jr.  Jim became manager of the funeral home and eventually took over the firm with his partner, Ted Larkowski in 1976.

Over the years, Jim has given many informational talks to church, clergy, community, school, hospice and other professional groups regarding funeral customs, options, funeral history and ministering to surviving family members and friends.  He also introduced the “Vial of Life Program” to the Lake Forest and Lake Bluff communities.  This was an emergency medical information system to aid paramedics.

Having been a part of the community for so many years and personally knowing so many people, Jim has always felt that his greatest reward has been hoping that families derive some comfort of meeting with someone familiar at one of the most devastating times of their lives.

A native of northwest Iowa, Chad came to Chicagoland in the Fall of 1993 to begin his career in funeral service. After completing his initial college courses, he moved on to complete his professional training at Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Wheeling, Ill. Upon graduation in 1995 he completed his apprenticeship and soon found a permanent position at Wenban Funeral Home in February 1996. For the past several years Chad has served as a board member of the Northeastern Illinois Funeral Directors Association where he is currently serving as President. In his off time Chad spends most of his time with his wife and their two daughters.

Tim completed his Mortuary Science studies at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale in 1986 and later served his internship with Wenban Funeral Home.  He obtained his Master’s Degree in Exercise Physiology at the University of Illinois at Chicago after earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science.  He currently resides in Arlington Heights, IL with his wife and two children.

Andrew was born and raised in a small farming community in North Central Iowa.  He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 2003 with his B.A. in Biology.  Following his graduation in the Fall of 2004 from Worsham College of Mortuary Science, Wheeling, Andrew began serving his funeral service apprenticeship with Wenban Funeral Home.  Shortly thereafter, Andrew became a fully licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer with the firm.  In his free time Andrew enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf and attending sporting events.