Vilius Kubilius

Vilius “Bill” Kubilius, age 94, of Kokomo, Indiana, and longtime resident of Evergreen Park, Illinois, passed away peacefully at home on September 12, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. Bill was born on August 20, 1931, in Seleniai, Klaipeda, Lithuania, to the late Jurgis and Anike Kubilius. The youngest of eight children, he grew up alongside his brothers Martynas, Jonas, Ansas, and Henry, and sisters Gertruda, Margarita, and Ona.Due to the turmoil of war, Bill and his family were forced to leave Lithuania, relocating to a displaced persons camp in Neuffen, Württemberg, Germany. In 1949, at the age of 19, he immigrated to the United States with his family and settled in Chicago. Just a few years later, in 1953, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, and sworn in as a citizen of the United States.Bill devoted 21 years of service to his country including tours in Korea, Lebanon, and Vietnam. He earned the Army Good Conduct Medal six times for his dedicated and honorable service, retiring as a Staff Sergeant from Fort Knox, Kentucky. Following his military career, he worked many years as an HVAC technician at the Edward Hines VA Hospital in Chicago. He was a loving husband to the late Ruth (née Butzbach) and devoted father to Diana (Kubilius) Cummins, Nancy Kubilius, and the late William Kubilius. Bill was also a proud grandfather to Jacob (Karolina), Jodie (Scott), Melanie, Jamie, Joey, and Mark, and a proud great grandfather to Leonardas.Bill lived his life with joy and simplicity. He loved working out, gardening, playing chess, eating blueberries, fishing, watching westerns, and, most of all, spending time with his grandchildren. He will be remembered as a man of faith who was strong, patient, loving, hard working, and kind to all who knew him. He will be missed dearly by many. Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 18, 2025, from 3:00-8:00 p.m. at Kosary Funeral Home, 9837 S. Kedzie Ave, Evergreen Park, IL 60805. A funeral service will be held Friday, September 19, 2025 at Zion Lutheran Church, 9000 S. Menard Ave., Oak Lawn, IL 60453. Guests may arrive for visitation at 10 a.m., with the service to follow at 11 a.m. Interment will take place at Bethania Cemetery in Justice, IL.