Alex Lancaster, 12, was taken suddenly from the world on December 12, 2012 when he was practicing a Batman stunt in his bedroom that went horribly awry. Alex was a 6th grader at Big Hollow Middle School in Ingleside, IL where he was a member of the Honor Roll, active in Newspaper Club, Ski Club, Set Design, and Backstage Crew. When he wasn’t busy with school, Alex loved to build Legos, make movies, read, play with his dog, Pepper, wrestle with his siblings, research new Lego creations or movie styles on the computer, goof-around with his dad, hang with friends, talk with his mom, create things with his grandfather, or play games with his grandmother. Alex also attended The Zone Youth Group at The Chapel in Grayslake, Illinois. Alex leaves behind his mother and father, Jude and Kristina Lancaster, his siblings Emma and Mason Lancaster, all of Round Lake, Illinois. He is also survived by his maternal grandparents, Bill and Judy Geister of West Dundee, Illinois; his paternal grandparents, FW and Cesaria Lancaster of Urbana, Illinois; 4 uncles, 6 aunts, 13 first cousins; countless extended family members; and friends of all ages who loved him deeply. Services will be held on Sunday December 16, 2012 at The Chapel 25270 W. Route 60 Grayslake, IL 60030. A private family visitation is from 1:00pm until 2:00pm, with a public visitation from 2:00pm until 6:00pm and a Celebration service immediately following at 6:30pm. The family is asking that we honor his love of cool and funny sayings on t-shirts. Please don’t wear suits or anything Alex would deem “fancy” and, if you are so inclined, we’d love to see a sea of comical t-shirts that make us smile at his Celebration. As requested by his siblings, all who attend are asked to bring a Lego set in honor of Alex which will be donated this Christmas to children of the area to help spread holiday cheer, as well as to instill in others the love of creating held by Alex. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alex Lancaster Scholarship Fund, c/o Dr. Christine Demory, Big Hollow School, 26051 W. Nippersink Road Ingleside, IL 60041. The family, working with Big Hollow, will establish a special annual Editor’s Award in Alex’s name for the Newspaper Club, an Alex Lancaster Scholarship Program for the Ski Club, as well as various other projects to improve Big Hollow School from a student’s point of view. All funeral arrangements were entrusted to STRANG FUNERAL CHAPEL & CREMATORIUM, 410 E. Belvidere Rd. Grayslake, IL 60030. For further information, please call (847) 223-8122 or visit www.strangfuneral.org.

Raymond Lucien Lacroix, a 73-year-old Round Lake Beach resident, passed away peacefully with family at his side on Mon. Dec. 10, 2012 in Panama City, FL. He was born on May 25, 1939 in Holyoke, MA to the now late Lucien Joseph and Yvonne Marie {nee Quenneville} Kestler Lacroix. Raymond served proudly for eight years in the U.S. Army Reserves, six months of which was active duty. He attended Ludlow High School in MA, and later finished second in his class at the Ward School (I.B.M.) for computer programming. Raymond was active in local politics, having run for Village of Grayslake Board and Lake County Board, as well as being a past commissioner of the Lake County Health Department. He worked for 15 years at the Park District of Highland Park, and retired from the Village of Gurnee after 10 years of service. Raymond is survived by his siblings Janet (Dave) Lavigne of Ludlow, MA, Carol (Leo) Chenevert of Feeding Hills, MA, and Edward Kestler of Springfield, MA; his children Shannon Yaccino of Chicago, Laurie (Ron) Methe of Springfield, MA, Jodi Yaccino of Chicago, Jackie Lacroix of Grafton, MA, Kathleen (Paul) Hovorka of Broken Arrow, OK, Danny (Michele) Lacroix of Springfield, MA, Kerry (Kevin) McDonald of Santa Fe, NM, Kelley Yaccino of Chicago, Jason (Amber) Lacroix of Grayslake, and Nicole (Christopher) Whittemore Lacroix of Phoenix, AZ; his grandchildren Jason, Ariane, Jeremy, Josh, Lindsay, Jared, Kaitlin, Nicholas, Meagan, Ryan, Alex, Rebecca, Samantha, Jamie, Samantha, Abigail, Rachel, Amelia, Katelyn, Joshua, and Owen; and his great-grandchildren Jason, Kailie, Esias, Nathan, Ava, and Skarlett. His wife Rhoda Mae {nee Kelley} Lacroix, and siblings Marlene Bean, Judith Bumgardner, and James Kestler preceded him in death. Friends of the family may visit at STRANG FUNERAL CHAPEL & CREMATORIUM, 410 E. Belvidere Rd. Grayslake, IL 60030 from 4 P.M. until 8 P.M. on Sat. Dec. 15, 2012. Interment will be held privately. For further information, please call (847) 223-8122 or visit www.strangfuneral.org.

George E. Drymalski, a resident of Round Lake, passed away Sunday December 9, 2012, at Highland Park Hospital, at the age of 72.  He was born April 22, 1940 in Chicago to Edwin and Harriette (nee: Kozicki) Drymalski.  George was an avid family man who loved being with his grandkids.  He was a broadcast executive for 38 years.  George is survived by his wife of 46 years, Penny, whom he wed on July 26, 1967 in Chicago, his sons Steve (Colleen) of Rosemount, MN, and Tom (Kristina) of Montclair, NJ, his grandchildren Shannon, Kiera, Lili, and Charlotte, his sister Joan Heuel of Chicago, and his nieces Terresse of Chicago and Julie (David) Vennetti of Chicago. Friends of the family may visit on Saturday January 5, 2013 from 10:00am until 11:00am, with a memorial mass commencing at 11:00am at St. Gilbert Catholic Church 301 E. Belvidere Rd. Grayslake, IL.  Interment will be held privately.  In lieu of flowers please make memorial donations to the American Diabetes Association.  All funeral arrangements were entrusted to Strang Funeral Chapel & Crematorium 410 E. Belvidere Rd. Grayslake, IL.  For more information please call (847)223-8122 or log onto www.strangfuneral.org