Floyd Kalber of Burr Ridge, formerly of Hinsdale and New Canaan, Connecticut.  He was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, where he met and married Benson High School classmate Betty Rhodes.  Served in the U.S. Army in the South Pacific during World War II. 

Kalber began his career in radio in 1946 at KGFW in Kearney, Nebraska.  His television news career started in Omaha, Nebraska in 1951, where he pioneered the news department for KMTV.  Frequent national news reports from Omaha brought him to the attention of NBC News personnel, who hired him to anchor the local news in Chicago at then WMAQ-TV (NBC).  Kalber’s newscasts held the number one position in the Chicago ratings for an unprecedented number of years through the sixties and early seventies.  

Kalber also worked as an NBC correspondent, where he delivered daily network news reports, and frequently did the Sunday NBC Nightly News.  In 1976, he moved to the Today show, where he anchored the news prior to  retiring from NBC in 1981.  But in 1984 WLS-TV, Chicago (ABC) lured Kalber out of retirement to deliver a half hour early evening newscast.  His contract was for two years.  Kalber ended up staying 14 years and never lost a single night’s ratings.  He presented the news until his retirement on February 27, 1998. 

Kalber is survived by Betty, his wife of 57 years, son, David "Mick" (Ann) of Hilo, Hawaii and daughter, Kathy Kinsella of Hinsdale, Illinois.  As well as grandchildren, Ivory and Sage Kalber, and Christopher, Michael, Patrick and Molly Kinsella.  

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to:

The LaGrange Community Nurse Health Association
23 Calendar Court, Suite 207
LaGrange, IL 60525

Omaha Home for Boys
4343 N. 52nd Street
Omaha, NE 68104

St. Thomas Hospice
8230 South Madiso
Burr Ridge, IL 60527

Floyd was a 33rd Degree Mason, inductee of the Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame, multiple Emmy-Award winner, and recipient of the RTNDA’s Silver Circle Award, as well as numerous other honors.  Kalber was famous for opening his news broadcasts with “Good evening Chicago!” and ending his shows with “and finally… “ lighthearted stories, that often cracked up his studio crew.

A message of thanks from the Kalber family

Personal condolences can be sent to Betty Kalber betty@floydkalber.com.

Personal sentiments can be shared at
Guest Book for Floyd Kalber

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