Aug. 09--On their trip back to northwest Indiana after a day in Chicago, Kenneth Hunter, his wife and a young family friend were riding in the rear of a town car July 10 as it traveled east on the Indiana Toll Road. But the driver fell asleep, the limousine company employee later told Indiana State Police, and the vehicle drifted off the highway, into and over the concrete median barrier, sliding into the path of oncoming traffic.
As the vehicle slammed into the median, Hunter moved to protect the 5-year-old girl, family members said, attempting to shield her from harm. Hunter suffered head, chest and lung injuries, but the girl escaped with severe cuts to her face, according to the crash report.
A month later, Hunter, a finance manager at Thomas Kia of Highland, Ind., died of his injuries Friday, according to his family. He was 53.
The young girl and Hunter's wife of 20 years, Beth, survived the crash, which occurred near East Chicago. The police report states all three were wearing safety belts. The limo driver and two other motorists were not seriously hurt, state police said.
"He was all-in, he loved life," said Hunter's brother, Tony Hunter, publisher and CEO of Chicago Tribune Media Group. "He enjoyed every moment, he enjoyed every interaction with people. He always made everyone feel important. He always made people smile and laugh. He was always present in life."
A perfect day for Hunter, his brother said, was heading to American Legion Post 66 in Griffith, Ind., where he loved hanging out with friends and enjoying a few beers while watching his beloved Cubs on television.
"My brother was a very simple man who enjoyed life," Tony Hunter said. "We're going to miss him. I'm very proud to have him as my brother. He was my hero."
With no children of his own, Hunter loved spending time with his nieces and nephews, who lovingly referred to him as Uncle Kenny.
"We joked that the people he would talk to probably got sick of hearing all of the stories, because he loved his nieces and nephews and loved to boast and brag about all of their accomplishments," Tony Hunter said. "They made him very proud."
He also enjoyed trips to area horse and harness racing tracks and loved his two dogs, Bingo and Buddy.
Hunter was born July 19, 1962, in East Chicago to Faye and Curtis Hunter, grew up in Calumet City, graduated from Thornton Fractional North High School and lived in Griffith. He was a veteran of the car business and was a whiz with numbers, Tony Hunter said. But what Kenneth Hunter loved most about working at the car dealership was the ability to interact with people, his family and a co-worker said.
"Everyone had a Ken Hunter story. That positive energy always radiated from him," said Greg Thomas, one of the car dealership's owners, who worked with Hunter for more than 15 years. "He would always take young employees and make them feel special. He treated the veterans the same as a young person who was just starting out in the business. That's a rare quality in the car business -- a rare quality, I imagine, in any business. ... No matter if it was the darkest day, he always had the sunshine."
In addition to his wife and brother, Hunter is survived by his mother and another brother, Steven. His father preceded him in death.
Visitation is from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at White Funeral Home, 921 W. 45th Ave. in Griffith, with the funeral service at 7 p.m. Cremation will follow services.
Memorials may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children or the Humane Society Calumet Area.
poconnell@tribpub.com
