(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A U.S. Army veteran from the Elgin area who died last month did not have any living relatives, but a large extended family will be on hand to say goodbye this weekend.
Army Sgt. Michael Pump died Oct. 9 at the age of 77. He lived at the Heritage Woods supportive living facility in South Elgin, where he would not be living without the efforts of Cathie Kross and her family.
Kross met Sgt. Pump 14 years ago when he was a resident at the Rosewood nursing home in Elgin. He was 2 years removed from having his leg amputated due to diabetes, and he had lost his eyes and nose to surgery to remove a cancerous growth from his face.
Kross said she was visiting the facility with her therapy dogs. They would talk during their weekly visits. She said he eventually became an honorary member of her family.
"The more he opened up, the more we realized we had so much in common. He was a die-hard Chicago Blackhawks fan. We could talk hockey all day long because we are a hockey family," Kross said.
The public memorial for Sgt. Pump is this 2 p.m. this Saturday afternoon at the Symonds-Madison funeral home in Elgin. The public is invited to participate.
Kross said meeting Sgt. Pump had a profound impact on her and her family. She said there are many more veterans living alone, waiting for someone to reach out.
"This is a great opportunity for other people to go out there and contact your American Legion and contact your VA halls and stuff like that and say 'Hey, can I come in? Can I talk to some of your people?'"
Pump will eventually be interred at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood.
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