Hon. Anton John Valukas
Of Palatine

Anton John Valukas, a long-time resident of Palatine, was born January 6, 1920 in Chicago to Anton K. and Eva Valukas. He died Friday, November 6, 2009 at Glenbrook Hospital in Glenview.

Judge Valukas started his career in law as an attorney for Commercial Union Insurance Company where he worked for 38 years. He also managed his own law office before being appointed to the Cook County Circuit Court in 1981. He ultimately served as Supervising Judge of Pretrial Services and was head of Pretrial Mediation from 1987 until his retirement from the bench in 1993.

Judge Valukas served as the Illinois Supreme Court ADR Coordinating Committee Vice Chair from 1990 to 1994. Regarding his work with alternative dispute resolution, Judge Valukas stated “I feel very fortunate to have been part of what I consider to be a substantial future and change in our system as it relates to civil matters. Because of my nature, I would have liked to have seen the changes take place more rapidly. Not only here, in our system of justice in Cook County, but in the law schools.” Upon his retirement Judge Valukas then started a new career handling private mediation

Anton was a regular lecturer at John Marshall Law School, Kent College of Law and the Judicial College in Reno, Nevada. In addition to numerous professional associations and memberships, he was a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Trial Lawyer’s Club and CBA. He was especially proud of being honored as the Lithuanian Man of the Year by the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture in 1987.

Anton’s survivors include his wife Miki whom he married May 24, 1970; his children Anton R. (Maria Finitzo) Valukas of Evanston, James L. (Sheree) Valukas of Burr Ridge, Linda Blum of Hoffman Estates and Shawn Y. Valukas of St. Charles; his 8 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

Visitation from 3:00 until 9:00 PM, Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at the Glueckert Funeral Home, Ltd., 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road, (4 blocks south of Palatine Road) Arlington Heights. Funeral service 11:00 AM, Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at the Glueckert Funeral Home, Ltd.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to The Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, 6500 S. Pulaski Road Chicago, Il 60629.