Michael A. Titre of Arlington Heights A
funeral Mass for Michael A. Titre, Major USAF Retired, will be
celebrated 9:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 31, at Our Lady of the Wayside
Church, 440 S. Mitchell St., Arlington Heights. Visitation will
be from 3 until 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 30, at Glueckert Funeral
Home, Ltd., 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road (four blocks south of
Palatine Road), Arlington Heights. Michael taught physics and
physical science in High School District 214 for 18 years,
beginning at Wheeling High School and retiring from Elk Grove
High School in 1984. His parents, Caterina (nee Savio) Titre and
Peter Titre preceded him in death. Born of Italian immigrant
parents in Clinton, Ind., on Oct. 23, 1923, he was raised in
Lockport, Ill., graduating with honors from Lockport Township
High School in 1941. He passed away at his home Monday, Aug. 27,
2007. He enlisted in the Air Force, graduating from flight
training as a P-47 Thunderbolt pilot and during World War II was
assigned to the 9th Air Force 405th Fighter Group. His military
career as a fighter pilot included 58 combat missions over
Germany. His decorations include the ETO ribbon with five Battle
Stars, the Medal for Humane Action with three ribbons, the Air
Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Distinguished Flying
Cross. During the Berlin Airlift he was assigned to Templehof,
A.F.B. in Berlin as the chief weather forecaster, responsible
for all air lift operations in and out of Berlin. He was awarded
the Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster for that
service. During the Korean War he was assigned as the commander
of the Weather Detachment Osan AFB Korea and served as
instrument flight Instructor for the Korean Air Force. For his
service to the Republic of Korea, Michael was awarded with a set
of Korean Air Force pilot wings recognizing him as pilot in the
Royal Korean Air Force. Upon retirement from the Air Force,
Michael completed his teaching degrees and graduated from the
University of Illinois, Champaign. Michael began his teaching
career in High School District 214 at Wheeling High School then
transferring to Elk Grove High School. During his teaching
career and into retirement he served on several community
organizations in Arlington Heights. He is survived by his
brothers Peter (Maxine) Titre of Arlington Heights and John (the
late Beatrice) of Colorado Springs; stepbrother, Conrad (Peggy)
Gordon of Lockport. Ill.; and numerous nieces and nephews living
locally, out of town and out of state. A private burial with
full military honors will be held at Abraham Lincoln National
Cemetery, Elwood, Ill. Memorials may be made to Memorial Squad,
Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, 27034 S. Diagonal Road,
Elwood, IL 60421; American Institute for Cancer Research, 1759
R. Street N.W., P.O. Box 97167, Washington, DC 20090; or
Experimental Aircraft Association Aviation Center, P.O. Box
3086, Oshkosh, WI 54903-3086. For information 847-253-0168. |