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Community Corner

Local Woman Touches All the Bases in Terms of Community Service

Since her arrival in 1972, Bolingbrook resident Judy Bredweg has nearly done it all in the area.

Remnants of Bolingbrook are woven throughout the fabric of Judy Bredweg’s life.

And since her arrival in 1972 until now, she has continued to strengthen those threads that bind community adding to the rich tapestry we all call home.

A dedicated resident, Bredweg is the mother of two initially settled into the Arlington model homes (currently know as Winston Trails) and happily began nesting.

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"My husband at the time worked for the FBI and was transferred to the Chicago office," she said. "It was a good move because we had decided to stay in the Midwest. It made sense because we're half way between both sets of parents, mine in Milwaukee and his in Terre Haute (Ind.)."

After hopping from city to city, the Bredwegs had become disillusioned with the frequent moves that forced them to establish short-term residency in Washington D.C., New York City, Albuquerque, N.M., and San Diego.

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"Once we decided we were going to stay, I reached out to people through organizations. Bolingbrook did not have a newcomers club at the time, so I became involved in the Federated Women’s Club right away," Bredweg said.

By 1974, Bredweg had ascended to the presidency and under her leadership, the club had became a visible force to be reckoned with.

"It became a really big organization … kind of a powerhouse," she said. "We had about 60 members and put together a lot of local programs."

Bredweg also joined a small contingent of the group that branched out to form the Bolingbrook Historical Society in 1975 and remains actively involved to this day, serving as president for both the Bolingbrook Senior Club and Will County Historical Society.

"Every year in June or July, Judy runs a historical bus tour for the seniors," said Peg Miller, a senior program director for the Joseph & Sarah Levy Center. "She’s very organized and has quite a history of public service. You can ask her almost any question about Will County history and she’ll have an answer."

Mary Lou Haske, the recording secretary for the Bolingbrook Senior Club, has known Bredweg for 31 years. Haske said Bredweg's involvement stems from her strong sense of family.

"She’s like me, we’ve lived here long enough that we consider many of our friends family. So it makes sense that if family is important to you, you’re going to do things to make their lives better," Haske said.

A mover and shaker, Bredweg wasted no time making her presence known on the political scene, running for village trustee as an independent in 1975.

"It is not like I had those traits," she said. "I had never run for office and my family was not political. I got involved because I had an issue with Citizens Utilities when the sewer backed up into my house."

Bredweg was so enraged that she brought a bucket of raw sewage to a village board meeting.

"Wayne St. Clair, who was a trustee at the time, was afraid I was going to throw it on them," Bredweg said. "He asked if they could put the bucket of sewage in the office and took it away from me.

"None of the trustees seemed to be able to help find a solution. I knew I was not the only one in Bolingbrook with this problem. We were a growing community and I believed that this was something I could rectify as a trustee. I knew I had something to contribute," she said.

Bredweg was elected and served on the Environmental Concerns Committee under the direction of Mayor Nora Whipfler.

Bredweg said she remembers that despite Whipfler being pro industry, she resisted the development of a downtown Bolingbrook—her fear that Bolingbrook would lose its charm at the expense of commercialization, Bredweg said.

By the mid-to-late 1970s, as a political revolving door swept through Bolingbrook, the village was going through many changes—the opening of Old Chicago under Mayor Tom Groseth, the approval of the South Commons Mall—now home to Bolingbrook Auto Auction—and the 1976 purchase of land to build a town center. Even she led an unsuccessful bid for Mayor in 1977.

"Everyone from 1975 would make a commitment to stay in office for at least two years but no one ever did," she said. "A lot of us old-timers support Mayor Claar because he built on a foundation of forefathers. He made a commitment, stuck with a plan, protected our exits and entrances, put in good commercial developments and a industrial park.

"There are towns that would die for that whole layout. In my opinion Roger being elected stabilized the village," she said.

Bredweg stepped away from politics after taking a job as a substitute teacher at Bolingbrook High School in 1978. Just a year later, Bredweg started working at Joliet Corrections Center as an affirmative action officer working out of the Dwight, Pontaic, Lincoln, Sheridan and Statesville facilities.

But despite her array of positions, Bredweg said she feels she made her most lasting mark as a county board member, a position she was elected to in 1982 and served on until 1996.

Chairing the Capital Improvements Committee, Bredweg was charged with overseeing a $3.2 million budget to renovate the old Sears building in Joliet and turn it into the board's meeting place.

During those years, Bredweg continued to climb the latter in the Business and Professional Women’s organization. She was elected state president in 1990 and served a five-year stint, traveling and lobbying for the 5,000 members.

"In 1996, I was 56 years old and found myself out of politics. That following year, I was going through a divorce, had health issues and I knew I had to reinvent myself," she said.

That reinvention took place after Bredweg was hired to coordinate rentals at DuPage Township. In January 1998, her duties were extended to include general assistance and the food pantry.

"For the most part, we were dependent on the generosity of organizations and people," she said. "Those positions were very stressful, so when I retired on May 15, 2005, I felt like it was one of the most wonderful days of my life.

"The Levy Center has been such a gift! Some in our community call it a poor man’s country club. To me, its more like a home away from home," she said.

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