BELVIDERE—Deacon Steven Pulkrabek, 74, of Roscoe was killed in the early morning of Jan. 21 after his vehicle collided head-on with another vehicle in Boone County.

 

Authorities said a driver traveling north on Route 76 just north of Squaw Prairie Road, Belvidere, crossed over into the southbound lane and struck Deacon Pulkrabek's vehicle traveling south.

 

According to the Winnebago County Coroner Deacon Pulkrabek was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead from blunt force trauma to the abdomen. 

 

The male driver of the vehicle which struck Deacon Pulkrabek was not injured and no charges had been filed at press time. The cause of the accident was still under investigation by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office.

 

Deacon Pulkrabek served at St. Mary Parish in Durand and St. Patrick Parish in Irish Grove where he was active in many ministries, according to pastor Father Matthew Bergschneider. 

 

He assisted with funerals, held a communion service every Monday at the parish, assisted with RCIA classes as well as confirmation preparation, trained altar servers and was very active in the St. Vincent de Paul Society. 

 

Deacon Pulkrabek was also active in jail ministry and served Bishop David Malloy many times with Masses at Easter and Christmas at the Winnebago County Jail. Father Bergschneider said Deacon Pulkrabek will be greatly missed not only for his faithful service but also for his kindness.

 

Funeral arrangements were being completed by McCorkle Funeral Home, Roscoe at press time. A visitation and prayer service was to be held Thursday, Jan. 26 at 4:15 p.m. at the funeral home and again on Friday, Jan. 27 at St. Mary Parish Durand from 9:45 to 10:15 a.m. followed by a funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. 

 

A full obituary will be published when available.