George Wroblaski

George James (Jim) Wroblaski, of Rockford, IL, passed peacefully away in his favorite recliner on April 1st, 2025. He was born in Chicago, IL, on April 12th, 1944, to his parents, George Wroblaski
and Hilda (Zavadin) Wroblaski.  Jim served bravely in the US Army during the Vietnam War, 1967 – 1969, and saw significant action during the 1968 TET Offensive as an Advanced Mechanized Scouting Team member. As a lifelong photographer, he chronicled his tour of duty with hundreds of color slides, which he later digitized and presented as a slide show documentary for family and friends. Jim’s professional career spanned from Quality Control at Signode Strapping Corporation to Restaurant ownership ( Yum Yum, later Geo’s Cafe) in Marengo, IL, finishing with the ownership/management of several residential rental properties on the west side of Rockford.  His unique handyman and people skills served Jim well in his professional pursuits. Outside of work Jim enjoyed outdoor sports, skiing, scuba diving, and nature photography. His greatest passion was getting behind the wheel and traveling extensively throughout the United States.  Usually solo but always with his camera. He was the Consummate Road Warrior. His friendship and cheeky sense of humor will be missed by many.

Jim is survived by his daughter, Ana, his wiser sister, Nancy Hlavacek; and younger brother, Alan (Karen) Wroblaski; cousins, Jerry Kasperski and Claudia Ziebell; nieces and nephews, Carrie (Dustin) Felix, Alex Hlavacek (Karen Andersen), Sarah (Scott) Madden, Annie and Ashley Hathorn, Adam (Kylie) Wroblaski, Stacy (Lonny) Muir; grand-nieces and nephews, Hanna, Ben, Emelia, Reid, Gaius, and Ophelia. Also extended family,  Ted Hathorn, Elba Bermudez (ex-wife and mother of Ana), Patricia (sister of Ana, and one of dad’s “girls” he’d visit in CA) and Julio Bermudez. Lifelong and dear friends, Ray Perlman, John Hayes, Marsha Gats, Paul and Phil Weber, Violet (Ann) Roberson, Rick Anderberg; and a motley crew of McDonald’s breakfast buddies. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Hilda Wroblaski; baby sister, Karol Wroblaski Hathorn; brother-in-law, Roy Hlavacek; and brother from another mother, Ron Unger. 

A memorial visitation will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at Honquest Family Funeral Home with Crematory-Mulford Chapel, 4311 N. Mulford Rd., Loves Park, IL 61111, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM with a memorial service at 3:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, feel free to donate to The Nature Conservancy at nature.org for all the future nature photographers.

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