Michael W. Kornfeind

Michael William Kornfeind, 58, of Freeport, passed away on December 14, 2016 at home after a sudden battle with cancer, surrounded by loved ones. He was born on November 13, 1958 to John and Helen (Pospischil) Kornfeind, as the second youngest of five boys. He attended Freeport Catholic Schools and Highland Community College. He worked for UPS delivering packages to Savanna, Illinois for 35 years and treasured the many friendships he made with his customers there. He then worked for Dave DeMeester Landscaping for three years after retiring from UPS. He was a choir member at both St. Thomas and St. Mary Catholic Churches in Freeport, where he added beautiful harmony with his deep bass singing voice. He met his wife, Maureen (McGinnis) Kornfeind while in the St. Thomas choir, and they were married on June 23, 1990. They completed their family with the birth of their son, Christopher in 1994 and daughter Erin in 1999, as well as adding a few rescued cats along the way. Mike inherited his hardworking attitude from his parents, and one of his favorite memories as a child was helping them decorate their thousands of cookies into the early morning hours every Christmas season. He could fix virtually anything, and he worked hard to turn the fixer-upper he and Maureen owned into a beautiful home. He enjoyed spending time with his wife and children, and one of his most cherished recent memories was watching the 2016 World Series with them, as his years as a long-suffering Cubs fan were finally rewarded. He is survived by Maureen, his wife of 26 years, and their son Christopher and daughter Erin of Freeport, as well as by his four brothers: John (Makiko) Kornfeind of Glendale, Arizona, Richard (Sherri) Kornfeind of Freeport, Thomas Kornfeind of Freeport, and David Kornfeind (Patty Kee) of Rochelle, and his wife's family: Charlotte McGinnis of Freeport, Kathleen (Duane) Sies of Freeport, Patti McGinnis of Tunnel Hill, Illinois, Mary (Dan) Swearengen of Hollister, Missouri, and Tim (Ellen) McGinnis of Freeport, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, John and Helen, and infant sister Theresa, as well as father-in-law Mac McGinnis and brother-in-law Mike McGinnis. Funeral Services will be held 10:30a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Freeport on Tuesday, December 20, 2016, with the rosary at 10:00 a.m. Rev. David Beauvais will officiate. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established in Mike's memory. Please sign his guestbook and share a story at www.burketubbs.com.