Burton Breidert, the namesake of Frankfort's Burton Breidert Village Green, Died April 16

Frankfort's native son, Burton Breidert—the namesake for Burton Breidert Village Green—passed away April 16 at a retirement home in Fort Meyers, Fla. He was 100 years old.

A memorial service for Mr. Breider and wife Fran, who passed away sixe years ago, is planned to begin at 11 a.m. May 11 at St. Peter's United Church of Christ, 12 W. Sauk Trail Road.

The couple's son, Bob Breidert of St. Johns, Fla., told Patch in a telephone interview that the two are coming home to rest. Their ashes will be comingled in a single urn, and they will be laid to rest at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Simons Road at 127th Street.  

The man who left a gentle mark as a businessman and one-time village administrator, Breidert was known for his community spirit and strong interest in historical preservation.

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A lifelong resident of the Frankfort, Breidert wore a number of hats in his lifetime. He owned the B & M Lumber Co. and built many of the homes in the Prestwick subdivision, including the clubhouse in the early 1960s. He was responsible for securing a permanent home for the Frankfort Historical Museum  and served for about 20 years as Frankfort's very first village administrator, beginning in the early-to-mid '70s.

"His cherished Frankfort, IL was always close to his heart and he became an impactful, forward-looking community leader, statesman, and preservationist that over a period of about 50 years gave Frankfort the charm it enjoys to this day," said Bob.

Speaking of the man for whom Breidert Green was dedicated, Bob said, it's a fitting testament to his personal investment of self into the village.

"Frankfort is really a treasure," and Burt was responsible for shaping much of that foundation, said Judy Herder, president of the Frankfort Historical Society. He was the one who secured the permanent home for the historical society. In the '80s he approached former Mayor Glenn Warning about securing the building at 132 Kansas Street, which stands in the shadow of the historic water tower in downtown Frankfort.

Current Mayor Jim Holland said Briedert contributed much to the making of "modern Frankfort." He had the "vision" to expand the commercial district beyond the immediate downtown vicinity.

Holland credits Breidert with shaping Frankfort into a suburban community. He saw it as something more than farming area.  

Reflecting on his growing up years, Bob said, "I remember my dad built a lot of the Prestiwick subdivision. He was in construction. He built the clubhouse and loved to play golf there."

Moreover, he remembers his parents as loving and supportive of their only child. The Breidert family homestead was modest, said Bob. But it became a real standout in 1957.  "We were the first ones in town to have a (built-in) swimming pool. The first time it was used was on my graduation from high school. We had a party."

His interest in music was celebrated by his parents. "I was in the Gilbert and Sullivan music productions at Lincoln-Way High School," he said. "My dad enjoyed that." A member of the Men's Glee Club at the University of Illinois in Champaign in the early '60s, Bob said his parents would drive down to take in a performance. "I remember one time we were performing in New Orleans over spring break at Tulane University; they surprised us by driving down."

Years later, after Bob secured a job in Joliet, he and his wife moved to Frankfort. "My dad came out of retirement to supervise the construction of our house in Butternut Creek." His parents would later move to Florida year-round.

In 2008, the Village of Frankfort organized a surprise party for Breidert, who returned for a visit. He was honored with a party in his honor at the now-closed Enrico's Restaurant on South LaGrange Road, north of Route 30.

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