Thomas Peter Kwedar 82, of 2049 Marland Ave. died at 8:40 p.m. Friday at the Haven Nursing Home. A resident of Springfield since 1954, Mr. Kwedar farmed near Pana for 40 years. He was born in Lithuania. Surviving are his wife, Victoria; two sons, Dr. A. T. and Dr. E. W. Kwedar, both of Springfield; two daughters, Mrs. Howard Welsh of Taylorville and Miss Ann Kwedar of Washington, D.C., and nine grandchildren.
The body is at Kirlin and Egan Funeral Home. (1966)

Mrs. Victoria Kwedar, 84, of the Dirksen House died at 3:10 p.m. Saturday at the Dirksen House. Born in Pennsylvania, Mrs. Kwedar was the daughter of Anthony and Helen Zwinak Shupenus. Her husband, Thomas Peter, died Aug. 5, 1966 and a grandson, Tommy, preceded her in death. Aug. 20, 1966. Surviving are two sons, Dr . A. T. Kwedar and Dr. Edward Kwedar, both of Springfield; two daughters, Mrs. Helen Welsh of Taylorville and Miss Ann Kwedar of Springfield; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; three sisters, Mrs. Helen Thomas, Mrs. Julia Olshefsky and Mrs. Mildred strong>Dunnetski, all of Springfield; several nieces and nephews. Private family services will be held at noon Tuesday in Calvary Cemetery Chapel, the Rev. Charles Olshefsky officiating. Kirlin-Egan and Butler Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (1978)

Julia C. Olshefsky, 97, of Springfield died Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2003, at St. Joseph’s Home. She was born Oct. 9, 1906, in Pana, the daughter of Anton and Helen Zwimak Shupenus. She married Wallace A. Olshefsky in 1925 in Springfield; he died in 1970. Three sons, Wallace A., Jr., Rev. Charles E. and Robert L. Olshefsky, also preceded her in death. Mrs. Olshefsky was a homemaker. Survivors: a son, Paul F. Olshefsky of Springfield; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral Mass: 9:30 a.m. Monday, St. Aloysius Catholic Church, the Rev. Tom Liebler officiating. Burial: Calvary Cemetery.

Edward W. Kwedar, 79, died on January 1, 2011 at his home in Springfield. He was born on a farm near Pana, IL on January 27, 1931, the son of Thomas and Victoria Shupenus Kwedar. He married Dorothy Lashmet in Evanston, IL on December 28, 1957. She preceded him in death in July, 2004. A son, Thomas Carl, also preceded him in death in August, 1966. Dr. Kwedar received his B.A. from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and his M.D. from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1955. After completing an internship in Evanston, he entered the medical corps of the Regular Army in July, 1956 and served on active duty until January, 1964. During his military service he completed a residency in ophthalmology at Walter Reed General Hospital in Washington, D.C. His last duty station was Chief of Ophthalmology at Tripler General Hospital in Honolulu, HI. He was in a private practice in ophthalmology in Springfield from January, 1964 to July, 1989 when he became a full-time faculty member of the SIU School of Medicine. He retired in December, 1997. He is survived by one son and three daughters; Dr. John (Sharon) Kwedar of Springfield; Susan (Scott) Homa of Morton; Drs. Kathryn (Mason) Copeland of Brownsburg, IN; Elizabeth (Edwin) Roland of Chatham, NJ; eighteen grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by a sister, Helen Welsh of Taylorville and a good friend, Rotha Dickey of Decatur. He loved his children and grandchildren and was a very active part of their lives.
Dr. Kwedar was a member of the AMA, Illinois State Medical Society and the Sangamon County Medical Society. He was also a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and The Society of Military Ophthalmologists. He was a life-time member of the University of Illinois Alumni Association and was an avid Illini fan. He was also a long-time member of the Island Bay Yacht Club and the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Garden Association. He was a member of the charter class of volunteers at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. Family will receive friends from 4:30-7:30 p.m. on Friday, January 7, 2011 at Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield. Visitation will begin with a prayer service at 4:30 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 8, 2011 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 1725 S. Walnut St., Springfield with Msgr. John R. Ossola, celebrant. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to: Saint Joseph’s Home of Springfield, 3306 S. 6th St. Rd., Springfield, IL 62703; or the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Garden Association, 2301 East Lake Dr., Springfield, IL 62707.