Radovan "Raka" Prodanovic

Radovan “Raka” Prodanovic, 83, died Oct. 31, 2022, at home where he was surrounded by those he loved. By happenstance, he was born in Skopje, Macedonia on May 29, 1939, to Jelena (Lukic) and Aleksandar “Leka” Prodanovic, and then raised in the village of Grivac, Serbia, which always held a special place in his heart. He left Grivac to continue his education in Kragujevac, Serbia, before obtaining a law degree at the University of Belgrade. In Belgrade, he met Radmila “Mira” Canic and they married in 1963 before coming to the U.S. to be reunited with his father, who had immigrated there after imprisonment in a German POW camp during WWII. Typical of the immigrant experience, Raka left his law career behind and instead worked as a die cast operator for 30 years building Johnson Motors for Outboard Marine Corp. in Waukegan, IL. He and Mira raised a family in Waukegan and became enmeshed in the Serbian diaspora in the Chicago area. Raka served as president of the St. Sava Serbian Monastery congregation in the 1970s and was a longtime member of Serbian Brothers Help cultural center in Lake Villa, IL. He never lost his love for his homeland, visiting it nearly every year until he could no longer travel. Orator. History buff. Bon vivant. He loved nothing more than meeting people and talking with them on topics far and wide. He didn’t only remember his family’s history, but that of his friend’s families, too. He hated owing money and always showed up early. He was known to drive an hour to drop a treat off for his grandkids … just because. Under his sometimes gruff exterior beat a heart of gold. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Mira and is survived by his loving daughter Seka Palikuca, her partner Joe Lyzniak, dear son Sasha (Tanya) Prodanovic, adored grandkids Stefan Palikuca, Maya Palikuca and Sava Prodanovic, devoted niece Ljiljana Stankovic, and many dear friends and family throughout the U.S. and Serbia. Services to be held on Friday, November 4, 2022 at St. Sava Serbian Serbian Orthodox Monastery, 32377 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. Visitation at 10 a.m. followed by a Funeral Service at 11 a.m. Interment St. Sava Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Muzyka & Son Funeral Home. For more information, call (773) 545-3800.

Radovan "Raka" Prodanovic

May 29, 1939 - October 31, 2022