Kane County coroner remembered for compassion

ELGIN – Friends and family of Kane County Coroner Chuck West remembered him Monday as a man who showed compassion to everyone he met.

“He was the best man on the face of the earth, if you ask me,” said South Elgin Fire Lt. Allen Etheridge, who was choking back tears after Monday’s funeral for West at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Elgin.

Etheridge served as a pallbearer at the service.

West, 69, died Wednesday as a result of complications after liver transplant surgery. He was in the midst of his third four-year term as Kane County coroner.

West had been re-elected twice, but he was not seeking re-election in 2012 because he had come under a cloud of accusations of criminal and ethical misconduct. West was facing charges of official misconduct in connection with allowing the TV of a dead man to be kept in an employee’s home. He was indicted in May 2010.

But family and friends chose to put a spotlight on West’s service to others.

“He was always giving,” Etheridge said. “That’s why I’m a giving person, because of Chuck.”

Etheridge said he went through paramedic class with West, whose career also included being a South Elgin Fire Department firefighter/paramedic. Before he was elected coroner, West served eight years as a deputy coroner.

Others during the service noted West’s generosity in buying Christmas presents for children in need. Kane County Auditor Bill Keck said West showed compassion to survivors in his capacity as coroner.

“It’s a difficult job,” Keck said. “He would comfort the survivors. He was a very compassionate individual.”

Kane County Clerk Jack Cunningham noted that West adopted the slogan, “It’s About Life ... Not Death” for the coroner’s office.

“He was highly regarded by other emergency personnel in the state,” Cunningham said. “He was a very dedicated, honest public servant. He was always there to help people.”

West’s wife of 23 years, Lisa, spoke of his love for the office.

“He wore the coroner’s badge with great honor and pride,” she said during the funeral service.

Above all, she said, he wanted to help other people.

“He witnessed countless tragedies,” she said. “What made him continue is knowing he could have a difference in people’s lives.”

That included putting his personal life on hold for his job.

“He gave up many a night’s sleep, vacations and many a night out to answer a page,” she said.

She said he faced his declining health “with grace.”

“He looked forward to retiring this November and even looked forward to a little leisure time,” she said.

West’s case had not gone to trial, in part because of the death of the judge that had been scheduled to hear the case and because of West’s ongoing medical needs.

The official duties have been formally delegated to Chief Deputy Coroner Loren Carrera on an interim basis. Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay said she intends to select someone by August to replace West.