Fallen Algonquin-Lake in the Hills firefighter to receive full military honors

John Paul Kilanski, a firefighter and paramedic with the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District who died unexpectedly at his home over the weekend, is expected to received full honors for his public service and military experience.

Since his death, the community has raised more than $3,000 to help with funeral expenses.

The visitation will be from 2 to
9 p.m. Sunday at Willow Funeral Home, 1415 Algonquin Road.

At 6 p.m. Sunday, uniformed military personnel and firefighters will hold a walk-through.

The funeral will begin at 11 a.m. Monday, and Kilanski will receive full fire department and military honors, said Kilanski’s brother, James Kilanski.

About 10:15 a.m., John Paul Kilanski’s casket will be loaded onto a fire engine, which will pass by Algonquin fire stations 1 and 3 before arriving at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 111 S. Hubbard St. in Algonquin.

A GoFundMe page, www.gofundme.com/honoring-johnpaul-kilanski, has been set up by James Kilanski's wife, Jessica. The money will go toward funeral expenses and John Paul's three children, 8-year-old Hunter, 6-year-old Gunnar and 4-year-old Cannon, James Kilanski said.

Of the dozens of messages from friends and family, James Kilanski said one of the messages that stood out most was from Tom Gard, a childhood friend of his brother.

“You were my best buddy in my earliest memories of childhood,” Gard wrote. “We wanted to be heroes when we grew up, and you accomplished that mission tenfold. Rest in peace, friend.”

John Paul Kilanski served with the fire protection district since 2001.

James Kilanski said his brother had just completed his lieutenant exams and was up for a promotion.

He also had received a life-saving award a couple of weeks ago after saving someone who was having an anaphylactic attack after a bee sting while he was off duty.

John Paul Kilanski was a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves, where he served as a sergeant overseas during Operation Iraqi Freedom for 435 days in the 300th Military Police Unit.