Richard "Rick" James Kereluk

Richard James Kereluk, 79, of Algonquin, Illinois, passed away on October 19, 2026. Born June 6, 1947 to Roman & Helene (Mojrzesz) Kereluk, Richard grew up in Chicago with his sister, Danielle, and graduated from St. Patrick's High School.

In 1971, Richard met Deborah Markos, and they married in 1973. Together they welcomed two daughters, Kristin & Sara. Richard loved to spoil his family, and while he could be a strict dad, he was always there for his kids: steady, protective, and deeply committed. In his own way, he made sure everyone was okay, always attentive to safety and well-being, offering help before it was asked and care before it was noticed.

Over the years, Richard built a life defined by steady work and a quiet devotion to the people he loved. He worked as a mechanic for many years before switching to the tool & die industry, where he became a manager. Later, guided by a deep love of cars and an eye for detail, he opened his own auto body shop, specializing in classic cars and specialty paint jobs. Even in the midst of long days, he found ways to give of himself — bringing Kristin & Sara to work, and making the kind of ordinary moments memorable. Richard retired at 50, but never truly stopped being the person who looked out for others and took responsibility for what mattered.

Richard’s life was also rich with varied interests and the simple pleasures. He loved traveling with Debbie all over the world, from frequent trips to Vegas or Hawai'i to the many cruises where they explored places like Alaska, Australia & New Zealand. His love of cars extended from work to attending cruise nights and car shows with his family. He enjoyed dancing and making up different verses for popular songs, to the delight or chagrin of his family. On a quiet day at home, he enjoyed surfing the web, a calm boat ride or relaxing in his daughters' backyards, and watching westerns or the Food Network. He loved all kinds of food and trying different restaurants. He went to Burnt Toast every Friday with his friends. He especially loved coffee, making a point to stop by Boston Coffee Shop in Florida with Danielle.

Those who knew Rick well knew he had many layers to him; he was someone whose presence could feel formidable at first, yet whose heart showed itself in selfless ways. He had a mind that could always work out the answer to a math problem, even if he couldn’t quite show how he got there—an instinctive problem-solver with a knack for finding a way through. He will be deeply missed by his family and all those lucky enough to call him a friend.

Richard is survived by his wife, Deborah Kereluk; daughters Kristin (Robert) St. Germain and Sara (Jeffrey) Rowland; grandchildren Mark, Richard "Rickie", Nora, Paxton, and Dena; sister Danielle Jones; and nephew Daniel "DJ" (Melissa) Huffman.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roman & Helene Kereluk; and brothers-in-law Earl Huffman and Richard Jones.

Visitation will be held at Querhammer & Flagg Funeral Home, 500 West Terra Cotta Ave, Crystal Lake, IL 60014, US, on October 28, 2026, from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm, followed immediately by a funeral service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association.