Rostyslaw (Russ) Sobol passed away on April 24, 2025 at the age of 85. He is survived by his wife, Christine Maria Sobol; three children, Tanya Sobol Keating (Robert), Markion Roman Sobol, and Nina Sobol Parks (David); and five grandchildren, Ella Rose Keating (12), Lucas Robert Keating (7), Roman Haze Sobol (6), Treyson River Keating (4), and Liliya Sophia Parks (11 months). He is the brother of the late Tamara Tinyszin and survived by eight nieces and nephews.

Visitation for Rostyslaw will be held on Sunday, May 4, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at Muzyka Funeral Home, 2157 W. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622. The Panachyda, also known as the Wake Service, will be held at 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home. On Monday, May, 5, the Funeral Service will commence at 10:00 a.m. at Muzyka Funeral Home followed by a procession to St. Nicholas Catholic Cathedral for a 10:30 a.m. Funeral Service. The entombment to follow at the St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in his memory to Sunflower Seeds Ukraine, a nonprofitt organization providing medical and tactical gear to Ukrainian soldiers. Rostyslaw, a proud U.S. Air Force veteran, would want to help Ukrainian soldiers defending his homeland. Donations can be made online at sunflowerseedsukraine.org or P.O. Box 3137, Boulder, CO 80307.

Rostyslaw was the embodiment of the American dream. He was born October 29, 1939 in Horodenka, Ukraine to Kornelia and Roman Sobol. His family left Ukraine at the start of the World War II in a horse and buggy. After spending time in Germany, and learning to speak German, Rostyslaw immigrated to the United States with his parents through Ellis Island. He lived in Hartford, Connecticut and enjoyed playing basketball in his youth.

While attending Trinity College, he joined the ROTC program and eventually became a Capitan in the U.S. Air Force. Rostyslaw served as a commander and intelligence officer in the Vietnam War flying C-130E airplanes in over 424 combat missions. His military awards include the Air Medal with Seven Oak Leaf Clusters, the Vietnamese Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign. Later, he became a pilot for United Airlines and had a 30+ year career with the company before retiring shortly after 9/11. Rostyslaw really enjoyed being a captain of large commercial airplanes, especially on the Boeing 777.

Rostyslaw, who went by Russ, married Christine Lushpynsky in 1970 in the Vatican. He loved the airline industry so much that he even encouraged his wife to become a flight attendant for Pan Am Airlines. They enjoyed working and traveling as a young couple. The Hawaiian Islands were one of Russ's favorite destinations throughout his life and his family shares many wonderful memories of times on the beach.

Together, Russ and Christine had three children and settled in the suburbs of Chicago. Although his career took him all over the world, Russ was a family man who loved nothing more than being home with his family, enjoying a good meal and a nice glass of Bordeaux (and maybe some Cognac). He deeply valued his Ukrainian heritage, which he and his wife instilled in their children. He enjoyed going to church and singing in the choir. He spent his free time taking his children into the city for Ukrainian school, dance, youth group and church.  He was heavily involved in the Ukrainian community in Chicago, serving on the Board of Directors of the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art (UIMA) for about 15 years. His vision and leadership were instrumental in shaping the UIMA's physical and cultural landscape for years to come.

Russ, who had no formal training as a builder, had a passion for remodeling houses. He built two family homes in the Midwest Club in Oakbrook from the ground up and enjoyed doing much of the work himself. After retiring, Russ started a "second career" remodeling and flipping houses. He was always willing to lend a hand on that front, even flying to Colorado to work on the property he purchased for his kids while they were in school and to help his daughter and son-in-law improve their first home. Russ also served on the Architectural Committee of his homeowners' association providing his community with invaluable wisdom and guidance as an original homeowner of the community.

Russ was an extremely hardworking man and the kind of person that everybody could rely on - his children, parents, in-laws, extended family members and treasured Ukrainian community. For instance, even though he wasn't an accountant, he helped prepare tax returns for multiple family members. He taught his children the value of hard work; and his work ethic never wavered as he took care of others, like his mother-in-law, to the very end. Towards the end of his life, nothing brought him more joy and pride than his grandchildren. Rostyslaw will be deeply missed.