Kratochvil

Timothy R. Kratochvil, 49, of Pawnee, Ill., was born April 2, 1974, to Roger and Mary Kratochvil. He died on Saturday, Sept. 23, at Memorial Hospital in Springfield from a massive heart attack after being found unresponsive at his family farm outside of Pawnee.

Tim graduated from Mt. Olive High School in 1992 and then signed a letter of intent to play baseball at SIU Carbondale where he had a very successful baseball career and was later inducted into SIU Sports Hall of Fame. After college he played two years with the Boston Red Sox. Tim later earned a Master’s Degree and a Superintendent’s Certification. Tim spent 27 years in education. He was a teacher and coach at Genoa-Kingston High School and Taylorville High School. He served as the high school/junior high school principal at Pawnee for 10 years, and the last two years as superintendent. A candle-light vigil in his memory for his years of service was held Sunday night in front of the high school and over 600 people attended. Grade School Principal Chris Henneman, high school/junior high Principal Nicole Goodall, and his sister Jane spoke. His goal was always to make a difference, and his coaching slogan "the difference a year makes" inspired the players to remember if things were not going right now, then next year they would be one year older and they would be better.

Besides his parents, he is survived by his children, Jack, Luke, and Olivia; and his sister, Jane of Chicago. Also surviving is the mother of his children, Wendy; and his companion, Melanie Shutt and her children, Riley and Randy.

Funeral services were held at Zion Lutheran Church in Mt. Olive on Saturday, Sept. 30. Interment was at Union Miners Cemetery in Mt. Olive.

Memorials are suggested to the Mt. Olive Academic Foundation; Tim's children, Jack, Luke and Olivia; and the Pawnee School District 11 c/o Kratochvil memorial. Anyone wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at beckerandson.com. Becker and Son Funeral Home in Mt. Olive was in charge of arrangements.