- Date Of Birth: March 4, 1942
- Date Of Death: March 3, 2017
- State: Illinois
Chester John Balzer, 74, of rural Virginia, IL and formerly of Downers Grove, IL died Friday, March 3, 2017, at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, IL.
He was born March 4, 1942 in Aurora, IL, the son of Harvey William and Vesta Lee Hackley Balzer. He married Barbara Joan Dodds on June 5, 1965 in Jacksonville, IL and she survives.
He is also survived by two children, Joanna Lynn Perez (fiancé, Bryan Sleigher) of Downers Grove and Andrew William Balzer (wife, Heather) of Naperville; six grandchildren, Gabriel Rios Perez, Joshua William Perez, Brianna Lynn Perez, and Isabella Maria Perez, all of Downers Grove, and Katherine Jeanette Balzer and Allison Grace Balzer, both of Naperville; two sisters, Nancy Holt (husband, John) of Birmingham, AL, and Elizabeth Wheeler (husband, Richard) of Winnebago; and six nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, William Lee Balzer.
Following his graduation from Downers Grove High School, Chester received his bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in music from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. A long-time talented music educator, he taught instrumental music in Bethany, IL for three years before joining the faculty of Wheaton Unit School District #200. Chester taught music at all levels in Wheaton from 1967 until his retirement in 1994. During his tenure, he led jazz bands, ensembles, and marching bands through many performances and competitions including travel to Jamaica, Bahamas, Hawaii, and an Easter Sunday parade at Disneyworld. In addition, Chester and his wife, without previous business experience, owned and operated a small convenience store in West Chicago from 1983-1994. After retiring, Chester served as the administrator for the Downers Grove Moose Lodge.
As a young talented trumpet player, Chester often performed with dance bands around the Decatur, IL area. He was an avid sports fan following many college and professional sporting events and rooting for his beloved Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears. He also enjoyed being outdoors, appreciating nature, and hunting wildlife. He enjoyed his family and was an attentive and caring grandfather.
Chester and Barbara relocated to rural Virginia, IL in November of 2006 following 40 years of residency in Downers Grove. He expanded and applied his love of woodworking by constructing a new home and creating many wood projects. While in Virginia, Chester became involved in the construction of an additional wood cabin for Virginia’s Rexroat Prairie, assisting with the maintenance of the other log cabin structures on the site, and supporting The Friends of Rexroat Prairie.
