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When Jeffrey Ake was kidnapped by insurgents in Iraq three years ago, his friends from Downers Grove North High School rallied to provide temporary support to his family.
David Dlesk, who now lives in Boston, made weekly trips to try to maintain Ake’s business. But as time passed and Ake did not return, the business had to be sold along with the family’s home. He left behind a wife, Lilly, and four children ages 5 through 18.
| Ake family fundraiser WHAT Jeffrey Ake Family Fundraiser with music by Outpatience, drinks and snacks WHEN 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Feb. 23 WHERE Orchard Brook Clubhouse, 1089 35th St., Downers Grove COST $50 suggested donation TO RSVP E-mail ddlesk@comcast.net |
A 1976 graduate of Downers North, Jeffrey Ake owned a packaging equipment company in LaPorte, Ind. which was contracted to manufacture and label water bottles and other containers in Iraq. He was kidnapped from a Baghdad water treatment plant April 11, 2005 and days later appeared in a videotape released by insurgents. The tape showed him holding his passport, driver’s license and a family photo pleading for his life while surrounded by hooded and armed men. He has not been seen or heard from since.
“He was probably one of the most friendly, warm, compassionate people I’ve known in my life,” said Downers Grove resident Pat Carlson and Downers North aluma. “When this happened it’s very shocking and everybody is kind of like what can you do? We just started supporting Lilly and the kids, sending money.”
Now his friends are working to try to raise new funds with a party to celebrate Jeffery Ake’s 50th birthday Saturday, Feb. 23, at Orchard Brook Clubhouse in Downers Grove. While the group scattered across the country after graduation, they have been coming together for weekly conference calls to help plan what they hope will raise enough money to help Lilly move toward sustaining her family without the help of her husband or access to his life insurance or social security.
“I think this has been devastating for them,” said Terry Creamer of Clarendon Hills and Downers North alum. “Jeff was the bread winner and owned a business and the business is not longer part of the Ake family.”
The idea partially came from a successful event put on by Carlson in 2007, even though she was innitially so afraid it would flop she did not tell any of his friends.
She set out to raise $500 with an event at Ballydoyle Irish Pub & Ballydoyle in Downers Grove to help Ake’s family. She would up gathering $6,500 she gave directly to Lilly.
“Small children, they don’t understand,” Carlson said. “As adults we don’t really even understand. Lilly is an incredibly strong person, and I’m really proud of her. You’re living your life and suddenly someone just plucks out the main character.”
When Jeffrey Ake was kidnapped by insurgents in Iraq three years ago, his friends from Downers Grove North High School rallied to provide temporary support to his family.
David Dlesk, who now lives in Boston, made weekly trips to try to maintain Ake’s business. But as time passed and Ake did not return, the business had to be sold along with the family’s home. He left behind a wife, Lilly, and four children ages 5 through 18.
| Ake family fundraiser WHAT Jeffrey Ake Family Fundraiser with music by Outpatience, drinks and snacks WHEN 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Feb. 23 WHERE Orchard Brook Clubhouse, 1089 35th St., Downers Grove COST $50 suggested donation TO RSVP E-mail ddlesk@comcast.net |
A 1976 graduate of Downers North, Jeffrey Ake owned a packaging equipment company in LaPorte, Ind. which was contracted to manufacture and label water bottles and other containers in Iraq. He was kidnapped from a Baghdad water treatment plant April 11, 2005 and days later appeared in a videotape released by insurgents. The tape showed him holding his passport, driver’s license and a family photo pleading for his life while surrounded by hooded and armed men. He has not been seen or heard from since.
“He was probably one of the most friendly, warm, compassionate people I’ve known in my life,” said Downers Grove resident Pat Carlson and Downers North aluma. “When this happened it’s very shocking and everybody is kind of like what can you do? We just started supporting Lilly and the kids, sending money.”
Now his friends are working to try to raise new funds with a party to celebrate Jeffery Ake’s 50th birthday Saturday, Feb. 23, at Orchard Brook Clubhouse in Downers Grove. While the group scattered across the country after graduation, they have been coming together for weekly conference calls to help plan what they hope will raise enough money to help Lilly move toward sustaining her family without the help of her husband or access to his life insurance or social security.
“I think this has been devastating for them,” said Terry Creamer of Clarendon Hills and Downers North alum. “Jeff was the bread winner and owned a business and the business is not longer part of the Ake family.”
The idea partially came from a successful event put on by Carlson in 2007, even though she was innitially so afraid it would flop she did not tell any of his friends.
She set out to raise $500 with an event at Ballydoyle Irish Pub & Ballydoyle in Downers Grove to help Ake’s family. She would up gathering $6,500 she gave directly to Lilly.
“Small children, they don’t understand,” Carlson said. “As adults we don’t really even understand. Lilly is an incredibly strong person, and I’m really proud of her. You’re living your life and suddenly someone just plucks out the main character.”
