Please accept our sincerest condolences.  Many years ago, as a young man, he was an employee of ours and we later had the opportunity to help celebrate his wedding by having his reception at the Mar Lac House in Oak Park.  Our thoughts and prayers will be with him forever.




I met Joe at Weber HS in the 1960's and we became close friends then. Gradually our friendship waned after we graduated from Weber. However, life's idiosyncrasies made our paths cross by accident and without any pre-planning. Our friendship spanned from being teenagers and partying at "The Hut" on weekends in DesPlaines to the personal tour Chief Judge Joe gave me of the courtroom at 26th and California where the film "The Untouchables" was filmed. At that last meeting Joe invited me to lunch at the Heart of Italy while my wife was serving as a witness at a criminal court case. Joe wouldn't let me pay for our meal at that wonderful Italian restaurant. He knew all the work staff and he was a generous kind soul. I never addressed him as "Your Honor", but it was an Honor to have him as a friend.
In between those two events I would run into him occasionally at the oddest places. From LaSalle St in Chicago to Santa Fe, NM where we met accidentally at the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. We would quickly exchange info about our families and the guys we both knew at Weber. I loved how he simulated dance moves with his hands and how he chuckled at our past shared experiences. My best contact with Joe was Bob Jendras of the Drum and Bugle Corps who was my one time boss at Cook County.
Joe loved his work as a prosecutor and Judge and he would hear nothing about my suggestion to take an early out pension from Cook County/State of Illinois. I loved the media coverage he got when he prosecuted the pilot who killed his wife. Also I liked the radio ads he placed on WLS radio when he was running to be elected judge. It was interesting to follow his career.
I will miss Joe and our happenstance meetings in this life. The world has lost a fine champion of fairness and justice and it hurts to see him gone. I hope more people will follow the fine example Joe left for all of us.    

Dragan and I will miss Joe, he was a dear friend. 
We were so happy that he was able to visit us at Lake Geneva last summer and even play a round of golf. 
Blessings to all of the family...you all have our heart felt condolences. 

Dragan & Judy 

All your old friends since the 1960's from the Royal Airs Junior Drum and Bugle Corps will miss you and pray for your eternal happiness.

I marched in the Royal Airs Drum and Bugle Corps with Buzzy.  He was a great guy and loved by all of us.  He had an admirable career as a Judge.  My condolences to his wife Donna and children and grandchildren. Also his mother Millie and sister Christine. RIP Buzzy 💔🌈💙

My brother Phil and I were in  the Cavaliers and knew Si Lurie,Buzz and many more.   Phil and Buzz saw me off at Union station to go in the Army(FT Knox)  Its just a memorable time for me that I cannot forget. Fast forward  2000s??  Buzz and I bumped into each other at a drum corp show and introduced to Donna(wife) and He remembered my Army send off.   Condolences  To Donna and the whole family  
   RIP Buzz  Mr Royal Air

Joe - we will miss you fishing and hunting up in the Northwoods.

My heart was saddened when I saw the obituary for Joe in the Tribune the other day.  Even though the passage of time and different life’s kept us apart, I thought of him often.

Joe and I were classmates at Weber High school.  There was a group of us that hung out together, went to the sock hops together, and chased all the pretty girls together!  We were the definition of cool, when we’d go out in his Buick Skylark ( WITH power steering. lol) to see what kind of mischief we could get into.

My condolences to his family and associates. I’m going to try to post a photo from a party we had in my basement, circa 1966.

Thank you, Joe, for your many years of faithful public service and for all you did to help me and so many other ASA's. Rest in peace.
Jim Andreou

I marched in the Royal Airs Drum and Bugle Corps with Buzzy. He was a great guy and loved by all of us. He had an admirable career as a Judge. My condolences to his mother, Millie, and sister, Christine.  RIP Buzzy 💔🌈💙

Joe was the best father and law and Chicago Blackhawks Fan! 

Judge Kaz or “Gentleman Joe,” it didn’t matter how you knew him, or referred to him.  Always brilliant, always ethical, always fair.  When I last filled out a “dream sheet” I only wanted to be in Skokie for my family, but figured well if I ever had to schlepp back to the “ranch” I would name Kaz’s courtroom.  Never did I ever expect that to happen - yet it did.  And every day he would remind me that he knew I only traveled the horrific commute because it was his courtroom.  We had wonderful partners and made dear friends (on both sides of the tables).  We litigated and we laughed.  But what I will always remember is his gigantic smile when he spoke about Donna, their children, and their grands.  Will miss you, but if anyone can teach them how to handicap horses in heaven, its Gentleman Joe.

I was very saddened when I heard of your passing. There are to many courtroom memories to share but I will forever be grateful that I was honored to work with a man such as yourself. I always enjoyed coming to work because we just had some of the best staff ever. Always fun. Rest In Peace Judge Kaz. You will be missed….
Your court clerk 
Mary Annerino 😢

Joe Sr. was one of the most kind, smart , "lead by example" kind of guys I know. I appreciated his friendship--and his sharing his lovely family with me.  We met when his children , Catherine and Joe, joined stage crew at Maine South.  Joe Sr. always made me feel comfortable --and I enjoyed some great conversations. He made me feel like family, when we visited the Kazmierski home.  He will be truly missed.

OBITUARY

Joseph G. Kazmierski Jr.

July 29, 1948 – July 4, 2022

Oehler Funeral Home

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