Tony Filko passed away on January 6, 2026 after a 13-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

He was born in Chicago to Franz and Eva Filko. Early on in their marriage they moved to the north side of Chicago. This home provided a wonderful place to grow up with a neighborhood full of children with which to play. Many summer days were spent playing baseball in the street.

Tony was always very active in sports. He played football in grammar school, high school, and with family and friends at Brooks Park. During the winter months, time was spent ice skating for hours at this park and weekends skating or swimming at Loon Lake in Antioch.

One of his first jobs was at Schmeisser's Meats in Niles. The whole family worked there at one time except for Dad (Franz). This job was like working with family. His German heritage was at the forefront while learning how to make (and enjoy) homemade sausage. Even decades later, stories of Schmeisser's are still shared.

During Tony's teen years he joined the Donauschwaben German Club. On Friday nights, the youth group gathered to practice singing and folk dancing for upcoming performances. Friday nights were the highlight of the week as some of the best friendships were formed during this time.

Tony went to Northern Illinois University in Dekalb for a degree in Accounting. He did well academically, but lived for weekend fun with Pete (his roommate) and Mike who would drive up from Chicago. He got his CPA but always strived for more in his career. He decided on Graduate school at the University of Chicago for his MBA in Finance.

Tony had many jobs over the years and each one served as a building block for the next, starting with Kraft Foods, then Dominick's, then owning a Freshens Yogurt franchise in Woodfield Mall. The next phase of his career was working with various startup companies. The last job at Alexandra Foods, however, was the perfect fit. It provided him with the challenge to grow the company, as well as, and just as importantly, the ethnic connection to employees and customers that was so strong.

Most of all, Tony loved being with people. He loved spending time with family and friends. Tennis league, volleyball league, playing pool, biking, rollerblading and walking along the lakefront, taking his nephews to a Cubs game, participating in a game of cornhole, or watching a Bears/Blackhawks game were activities he treasured.

He had a tight group of friends that he had known for 30 years. Early on, these friends traveled together to places like Rio de Janeiro and Oktoberfest in Munich. Within the last year he went to Tucson and Salt Lake City with them. He truly cherished these friendships. He formed many new friendships at the Four Moon Tavern while having a beer or two and playing pool. Tony and his friends also enjoyed visiting microbreweries in the area, he really appreciated well-crafted beer. When he received his pancreatic cancer diagnosis, he was asked what he wanted to do with the time he had left. He had no bucket list. All he wanted was to be with people. He loved people.

Tony is survived by his loving father Franz, his sister Rose, his brother Frank (Bonnie) and his 3 nephews Tyler, Tanner and Nathan and his brother John (Jeanne) and nephews Graysen, Carson and Alden.

He is preceded in death by his mother Eva Filko.

In memory of Tony Filko, contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society of America via website (https://www.cancer.org/donate/memorial-giving.html) or by mail to:

American Cancer Society

P.O. Box 6704

Hagerstown, MD 21741

Celebration of Life to be held at:

Society of Danube Swabians

625 E. Seegers Rd

Des Plaines, IL 60016

On February 14, 2026 from 2:30 to 5:30 PM