DU QUION, Ill. (WSIL) -- What began as a day at the doctor's office ended with an encounter shrouded in mystery.
Pat Stork, 80, of Pinckneyville, was walking out of Browning Hospital in Du Quoin when an unknown man approached her, offering to walk her to her truck.
"I just kind of shook my hand 'No I'll be fine,'" Stork said. 'When I got out to my truck, I turned slightly and he was standing there."
Instead of panicking, Stork says she struck a brief chat with the strange gentleman.
"He said, 'I don't smoke, I don't drink and I exercise. How old do you think I am? Can you guess my age?'" Stork recounted. "He said, 'I'm 82.' Very proudly."
Stork laughed off the encounter, entered her truck and drove home. During her drive, she thought more about their conversation. She eventually told her daughter.
"She said, 'Well mom did you get his phone number?' And I said no," Stork said. "'Did you give him your phone number?' And I said no. She said, 'Well mom!'"
The playful teasing turned into months of searching. A month after meeting the man, Stork took out space in the Du Quoin Weekly Press, and another in December.
Letter sent by Pat Stork to the Du Quoin Weekly Press
When no leads came in, Stork created her own signs and sent them to barbershops in the area. Stork initially offered a $50 reward but has since upped the ante to $100.
The chance encounter the day after her birthday and two weeks after Stork's husband, and childhood sweetheart Charles, died at age 84.
Charles Stork, 12, and Pat (Wesbecher) Stork, 7, in 1947-48 Olive School photo
Stork says the small gesture made a world of a difference, and gave her life at a time she felt like she lost part of hers.
"He's given me a purpose," Stork said. "All this time I've been looking for him and it's kept me from thinking of other things.
"I just wanted to have some closure about it," Stork said. "
News 3 asked Stork what she'd like to say to the man.
"Just thank him for being so caring, that's number one," Stork said.
"What's number two," the reporter asked.
"You want to have a cup of coffee? Or an ice cream cone?" Stork laughed. "And I'll give you my phone number this time.
"I won't make that mistake again," Stork said.
To help solve this mystery, you can send tips to the newsroom by dialing (618) 956-9833. You can also email news tips to [email protected].
