NOTE: On March 4, it was announced by the Lake County Coroner's Office that Palusiak's body was found in nearby Munster, Indiana. That story can be found here.
Community members are stepping up efforts to locate a 72-year-old Calumet City man who was reported missing two weeks ago.
According to Calumet City police, Chester Palusiak has been missing since Feb. 13.
Palusiak, who suffers from dementia, was last seen near the corner of Shirley Drive and 165th Street on that date at approximately 8 p.m.
A silver alert was issued by Illinois State Police at the request of Calumet City authorities, but there has been no luck in finding him during the intervening 13 days.
According to police, Palusiak is described as standing 6-feet tall and weighing approximately 150 pounds. He was wearing a black coat and blue jeans when he was reported missing.
Now, community members are rallying to help find a man they say has made a massive impact on countless lives in his community.
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"Just a heart of gold," Jill Michelle Ramirez said. "He would pick up kids who needed help and extra love, and he'd bring them to church."
Those who attend a church that Palusiak volunteered at have helped organize search parties in wooded areas near his home, where he liked to go hiking and spend time in nature.
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"He loves hiking the forest preserve," Ramirez said. "Did he go in there and get confused because it was late at night?"
Ramirez says that the search is "the best way to honor" Palusiak, and that "he would do the same" for any of the community members he's helped over the years.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call 708-868-2500, or to call 911 immediately.
