Julian "Red" Koren

Julian J. Koren

Julian J. “Red” Koren of Port St. Lucie, Florida and formerly of Des Plaines, Illinois, passed away unexpectedly on March 12, 2021, just shy of his 91st birthday.  He was the devoted husband of Dolores “Dee” (Stayer) and loving father of Julie (Patrick) Hickey, John (Melissa), Janet, Paul (Peyton) and Gary (Barb) Koren.  He was a wonderful “Poppa” to Colleen and Connor Hickey, Kevin, Reid and Reilly, and Ethan, Jenna and Brady Koren.  Cherished uncle of many nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by his parents Michael and Marie (Andrejasic) and brother, Edward.  His parents emigrated from Podgorje, Slovenia in the 1920s, and Red was proud of his heritage as a first generation American.

He served as a Eucharistic minister at St. Stephen’s Church in Des Plaines and was an active member of Holy Family Church in Port St. Lucie.

Red proudly served four years in the United States Air Force in a Communications Unit attached to the Strategic Air Command in California and Guam. 

He was a successful sales executive in the graphic arts industry and was presented the Harold E. Sanger Award in recognition for his support and commitment to graphic arts education. 

Red was an avid fisherman on his boat the “Reddee”, an amateur radio enthusiast and a history buff.  He and Dee enjoyed traveling the world and maintaining family ties and friendships with his cousins in Italy, Slovenia, Croatia and Argentina.  Red enjoyed sharing conversation and a glass of wine in the company of family and friends.

Services will take place on Friday, April 16, 2021. Due to current restrictions, interment at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL and the Memorial Mass at St. Mary’s Slovenian Catholic Mission Church in Lemont, IL will be private.  A livestream of the cemetery committal service will begin at 10:30 a.m. and of the Memorial Mass at 12:15 p.m. at https://www.asimplestreaming.com/jkoren

(Services will be available to be viewed for 90 days on this link)

Please raise a glass in Red’s honor, remember him fondly and in your prayers. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in Red’s name may be made to Southeast Florida Honor Flight, Inc., PO Box 1503, Stuart, FL 34995 (www.honorflightsefl.org/donate-today.html) or Holy Family Catholic Church, 2330 SE Mariposa Ave., Port St. Lucie, FL 34952. Arrangements under the care of Debbie Zefran-Jerry