Timothy Roger Kratochvil

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

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.

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 Sport’s 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 to a sadden crowd. 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.

Visitation will take place on Friday, September 29 2023 from 5 - 8 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Mt. Olive, IL. A second visitation will take place at Zion Lutheran Church in Mt. Olive on Saturday, September 30, 2023 from 12 - 2 p.m. Funeral service at 2 p.m.  Interment will follow at Union Miners Cemetery Mt. Olive, IL.  

In lieu of flowers and memorial trees, 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.

Becker and Son Funeral Home in Mt. Olive, IL is in charge of arrangements. Anyone wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at beckerandson.com.

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