Kenneth Arthur Talac

Kenneth A. Talac, 88, of Denton, Texas, died peacefully on February 13, 2023, at Medical City Lewisville Hospice Care with his loving family at his side. Ken fought the good fight for a long time and never complained. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandpa, brother, uncle, and friend, who shared a special love with his wife Virg for 65 wedded years. Virg provided such special love and care for him throughout his health challenges, and their bond was a beautiful display of unconditional love.

Ken was born in Chicago, Illinois, on November 1, 1934, and was a devoted son to the late Frank Talac and Bessie Koe Talac. Kind brother to the late Frank Talac, beloved husband to Virg Talac, loving father of Laure (Greg) Schroeder, Steven Talac, and Gary (Kim) Talac, and devoted grandfather to Michelle, Stephanie, Christian, Victoria, and Riley.

He attended Morton East High School where he was on the Varsity Swim Team and in the “M” Letterman’s Club. He also won 1st place in the Illinois State Science Contest. He and Virg started dated when they were 18 and met in their chemistry class where he saved Virg from blowing up the lab. Ken loved the water and was in the Sea Scouts as a teen, and later in summers, crewed on Tarbaby a 60-foot sailboat in the Chicago to Mackinaw Races. He and Virg are certified as scuba divers, and both hold a coast guard boating and navigation certification on oceans and rivers. He attended the University of Illinois in Champaign, Urbana, but his education was interrupted as he proudly served his country in the United States Army as a Radio & Code Operator with the Combat Engineers. After his service, he married Virginia “Virg” Reda on August 11th, 1957. Virg taught PE at Proviso East High School, and Ken continued his studies at Roosevelt University in Chicago. He helped Virg with many of the functions in the Girls’ Athletic Association (GAA) and the girls made him the only male member of the GAA. Ken graduated from Roosevelt University where he was president of the marketing club. One of his greatest achievements was to graduate with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the prestigious University of Chicago. He had many career achievements including President of Gamis Graphic Arts Marketing Institute and Director of Planning for Dresser/Haliburton.

Ken was a devoted Catholic and served as an altar boy and lector. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and achieved the 4th degree, which is the highest order.

When Virg and Ken retried in 1997, they bought a new condo 100’ from the Atlantic Ocean in Jensen Beach Florida on South Hutchinson Island where he served as Vice President of the Regency Island Dunes Condo Association. He loved to walk the beach, find shells, and gaze at the beautiful sunrises.

He loved swimming, boating, tennis, hiking, climbing mountains, riding his bike, traveling to Europe, and cruising the Caribbean, but most of all he loved his wife and his children and grandchildren. He spent a lot of quality time with each of his children especially in the Indian Princess and Guide Program where they enjoyed monthly meetings and crafts, camping, canoeing, and hiking together. Ken was called Thundercloud and Laurie was Raindrop. With his sons, he was Long Bow, and Steven and Gary were Flying Arrow. It was dad and his kids all the way. Later when his grandchildren were born, he spent precious time with each one of them and loved them very much. He had a great sense of humor, he was a hard worker, and a devoted family man. We all loved him dearly, and he will be greatly missed. He was our knight in shining armor.

A Funeral Mass will be held on March 11TH at 11am at St. Mark Catholic Church, 6500 Crawford Rd. Argyle, TX 76227. A luncheon will follow the service at the church.

Inurnment will be at All Saints Cemetery & Mausoleum in Des Plaines, IL 60016.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Mark Catholic Church Building Fund 6500 Crawford Road, Argyle, TX 76226.