Gary Apfelbaum

Gary Apfelbaum, 66, of Grayslake, formerly of Antioch, passed away Friday, November 10, 2023 at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital.

Visitation will be at 1:45 p.m. Friday, November 17, 2023, with a chapel service following at 2:30 p.m., at Shalom Memorial Park, 1700 W. Rand Road, Arlington Heights. Rabbi Taron Tachman will officiate. Burial to follow at Randhill Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Donor Network.

Gary was born March 7, 1957, the second-eldest son of Jerry and Ruth (Schwartz) Apfelbaum. He was raised in Northbrook and Arlington Heights and graduated from Wheeling High School in 1975. Gary spent most of his career in the heating and air conditioning industry, including seven years as a sales and service engineer at Oelerich HVAC in Mundelein and nearly 17 years as a HVAC technician at Ravinia Heating and Plumbing in Lincolnshire, where he retired in 2018. In 2010, he patented a device to help remove ice and snow from outside furnace venting. He was a member of Chicago Pipefitters Local 597.

Survivors include his longtime partner, Estelle Foreman; three brothers, Steve (Susan) of Juda, WI.; Ron (Kathy) of Lake Villa, IL. and Larry (Karen) of Bloomington, IL.; two nieces April and Amy Apfelbaum; two nephews, Aaron Apfelbaum and Noah (Denise Lane) Klinge; one uncle, Morrie (Fran) Schwartz; cousins Keith (Cheryl) Weitzman; Mark (Judy) Weitzman; Eileen Weitzman; Gary (Becky Willis) Schwartz and Linda (Alvin) Dodek, and his beloved dog, Sammy.

Gary was also survived by his best friend ‘Big Bob’ Knesley; longtime friend Dave Ariano and Gary’s co-workers at Ravinia; friends and neighbors at Saddlebrook Farms; longtime family friend Ron Boardwine and longtime friend Gloria Stevens.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one aunt, Estelle Weitzman; and one uncle, Leonard Weitzman.

Gary loved mechanical things, including repairing engines, golf carts, cars and trucks, and liked ‘curb shopping’ for treasures. He and his brother Ron owned rental homes in the Antioch area. He and Estelle enjoyed traveling, taking a road trip to North Carolina in 2019 and a train trip from Chicago to Seattle to San Francisco in 2022. Gary loved to call family members first thing in the morning and sing “Happy Birthday” on their special day.

Gary faced many health challenges during his life. He received a donated kidney from Gift of Hope in 2010 and was placed on the heart transplant list prior to his death. But Gary never let health issues define who he was and instead lived life with a positive attitude. He was kind, generous and loyal, always interested in your life, and someone who always had your back.

The family wishes to thank the doctors and nurses at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, Rush University Medical Center and Cleveland Clinic for the treatment and care they provided.

Gary is forever loved and missed by many.

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Service Information

Service : Friday, November 17th at 2:30 pm
Service Location: Shalom Chapel Service -Shalom Memorial Funeral Home

Interment:
Randhill Park Cemetery
1700 W. Rand Road
Arlington Heights