Tillie Klimek

Biography

Tillie Klimek (1877–1936) is remembered in Chicago's history for the criminal cases that once captured public attention, reflecting the harsh realities that many faced in the city's early twentieth-century neighborhoods. Convicted of serious offenses, her story was shaped by the turmoil of a time when poverty, immigrant struggles, and scant social support often led to tragic outcomes.

Though the details of her life remain a somber chapter, the memory of Tillie Klimek invites reflection on the need for compassion, justice, and improved care for those in distress, while the Bohemian National Cemetery quietly preserves the many stories of that era.