Jerome L. Levandowski

Jerome “The Pole” Leon Levandowski, 85, of Joliet, IL passed away on May 13, 2025. Born on June 19, 1939, to Catherine (Bluth) and Joseph Levandowski. Jerome attended St. Joseph Grade School and graduated from Joliet Catholic High School in 1956. Soon after, he proudly served in the U.S. Army until his honorable discharge in 1960, including distinguished assignments at the Pentagon and in South Korea. Jerome married the love of his life, the late Patricia Borio, at St. Anthony’s Church in Joliet on June 22, 1963. Together, they built a beautiful life rooted in faith, family, and hard work. Jerome supported his family through pipefitting, plumbing, and welding with local Union 422, where he held positions as a foreman and steward, eventually retiring from Statesville Correctional Center as a Steamfitter Foreman in 1999. An outdoorsman at heart, The Pole spent his days fishing, hunting, and tending his garden with quiet pride. When winter came, he joined the birds in flying south to Florida. He was a lifelong resident of Joliet, and a member of St. Joseph’s Joliet Parish since he was born. He is loved, missed, and survived by his children Mary Kay Levandowski Kunke, Joseph Levandowski, Ann Levandowski Star, Lawrence Levandowski, and Michael Levandowski. Eight grandchildren, Alli and Ben Kunke, Jeffrey and McCauley Star, Jessica (Matthew) Provance, Larry and Luke Levandowski, and Marissa Levandowski. Also 5 great grandchildren, Caleb, Callie, Nolan, Frankie J and Evelyn. He would often say that he never thought he would live long enough to see great grandchildren; Sister-in-laws Rosemary (Borio) Brennan and Kay (Borio) Larrick. Jerome joins his wife Patricia Levandowski; Parents Joe and Catherine (Bluth) Levandowski; sisters Jean (John Sr.) Wahl and Judy Levandowski; and nephew John Wahl Jr. in heaven. He had many friends who were like brothers to him. Preceded in death were Rocco Guglielmucci, Joe Cortese, Ken Stukel, Marty Uremovic, Jeep Spesia, Tony Spesia, Jerry Boucher, Bill Bick Sr. and Ted Wetherbee (the Coach). Many members of the “Rockdale Gang” preceded him as well. He is survived by his dearest and oldest friend, Art, “Skip” Kraus, (Mr. K,), James Talbot (the Captain) Fred Maske, Tommy Columbo, Walter Ferguson (Fergie), Jerry Frankovich (Franco), James Shoemaker (the Shoe), Randy Strong, Pat Keigher and Ray (Rainbow) Brenczewski. Numerous other friends were dear to his heart and there’s too many to list.

Visitation to be held Monday, May 19, 2025, from 2 minutes to 4 to 8 p.m. at Blackburn-Giegerich-Sonntag Funeral Home in Joliet. Funeral from the funeral home, Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. to St. Joseph Catholic Church for a Mass of Christian Burial at two minutes to 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, and in honor of The Pole, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, the Pole’s favorite charity, in the name of Penelope Gomez, a courageous child and family friend who lost her battle to cancer.