Imre Mohai, 84, of Arlington Heights, passed away peacefully on May 10, 2023 surrounded by his family.

He was born on January 8th, 1939, in Tamasi Tolna Megye, Hungary to Verona Kovac and Imre Mohai.  As a boy, he enjoyed playing soccer, swimming, fishing, and playing the violin.

When he was only 17, he and a small group of friends fled Communist-occupied Hungary to start a new life in the United States.  Their journey was fraught with danger and they were even shot at by the Russian soldiers.  Thanks to the help of Hungarian farmers and several good samaritans, they made it across the border and were flown to America from Salsburg, Austria by Catholic Charities.

Once in America, Imre went to school to learn English and began looking for a job.  His search soon brought him to Chicago, IL where he met his wife Maria Gardi in 1960 at the Piros Tojas Ball.  They were married a year later on April 15, 1961, and started their family in December of 1962 when their first daughter Marie was born, followed by Veronika, Imre and Kathy.  Imre and Maria took their children on many road trips and adventures from San Francisco to Sarasota in the family's VW MiniBus.  His children fondly recall many family boating trips to Silver Lake where he would patiently teach them how to ski and fish.  These special outdoor family memories will be forever cherished.

Imre was unfailingly committed to providing for his family.  He woke up before dawn every weekday to go to work as a sheet metal worker for Local Union 73.  He was a dedicated, hardworking tradesman and stayed with the company for 44 years.  In 2004, he retired to spend his golden years enjoying his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He could be found front and center at every life milestone, soccer game, swim meet, and volleyball game.  He was an ever present cheerleader in his family's lives.  Each Spring he would come back from his daily walks with a beautiful bouquet of lilacs for Maria.  He enjoyed reading, swimming laps at the local pool, playing chess, bowling, playing ping pong with his friends, family or anyone who would take on the challenge.  He was a lifelong learner which he passed on to his children and grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his grandson Nathan Bennett.  He is survived by his wife, Maria, his sister Veronika Mohai, his children; Marie Beusse (Walter), Veronika Voss (Charles), Imre Mohai (Judit), and Kathy Bennett (Ray), his grandchildren; Jessica Martinez (Mario), Melissa Gahalla (Kevin), Allysa Catrinta (Andrew), Danny Beusse (Ashley), Michael Beusse (Emma), Sarah Beusse, Kayla, Hannah and Julie Bennett, Benjamin and Dominik Mohai, and his great grandchildren; Marcellina, Jocelyn, Logan, Asher, Shiloh, Payton, Sutton, and Kayden.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

The family will have a celebration of life on June 5, 2023 at 11:30 am.  It will be held at Villa Olivia Banquet Hall at 1401 W Lake St in Bartlett, IL.