<PAGE>
                                                                  Exhibit 24.1


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


     The  undersigned,  as a director of Great Lakes REIT, Inc. (the "Company"),
does hereby  constitute and appoint Richard A. May,  Richard L. Rasley and James
Hicks, and each of them, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with
full power of substitution  and  resubstitution,  for him and in his name, place
and stead,  in any and all  capacities,  to sign the Company's  Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 and any and all amendments
thereto,  and to file the same, with exhibits and schedules  thereto,  and other
documents therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,  granting unto
said attorney-in-fact, full power and authority to do and perform each and every
act and thing  necessary or desirable to be done in and about the  premises,  as
fully to all  intents and  purposes  as he might or could do in person,  thereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact,  or his substitute, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of March,
1997.



                                                        /s/ James J. Brinkerhoff
                                                        ------------------------
                                                        James J. Brinkerhoff

<PAGE>


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


     The  undersigned,  as a director of Great Lakes REIT, Inc. (the "Company"),
does hereby  constitute and appoint Richard A. May,  Richard L. Rasley and James
Hicks, and each of them, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with
full power of substitution  and  resubstitution,  for him and in his name, place
and stead,  in any and all  capacities,  to sign the Company's  Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 and any and all amendments
thereto,  and to file the same, with exhibits and schedules  thereto,  and other
documents therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,  granting unto
said attorney-in-fact, full power and authority to do and perform each and every
act and thing  necessary or desirable to be done in and about the  premises,  as
fully to all  intents and  purposes  as he might or could do in person,  thereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact,  or his substitute, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of March,
1997.



                                                           /s/ Daniel E. Josephs
                                                           ---------------------
                                                           Daniel E. Josephs

<PAGE>


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


     The  undersigned,  as a director of Great Lakes REIT, Inc. (the "Company"),
does hereby  constitute and appoint Richard A. May,  Richard L. Rasley and James
Hicks, and each of them, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with
full power of substitution  and  resubstitution,  for him and in his name, place
and stead,  in any and all  capacities,  to sign the Company's  Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 and any and all amendments
thereto,  and to file the same, with exhibits and schedules  thereto,  and other
documents therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,  granting unto
said attorney-in-fact, full power and authority to do and perform each and every
act and thing  necessary or desirable to be done in and about the  premises,  as
fully to all  intents and  purposes  as he might or could do in person,  thereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact,  or his substitute, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have  hereunto set my hand this 28th day of March,
1997.



                                                            /s/ Edward Lowenthal
                                                            --------------------
                                                            Edward Lowenthal

<PAGE>

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


     The  undersigned,  as a director of Great Lakes REIT, Inc. (the "Company"),
does hereby  constitute and appoint Richard A. May,  Richard L. Rasley and James
Hicks, and each of them, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with
full power of substitution  and  resubstitution,  for him and in his name, place
and stead,  in any and all  capacities,  to sign the Company's  Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 and any and all amendments
thereto,  and to file the same, with exhibits and schedules  thereto,  and other
documents therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,  granting unto
said attorney-in-fact, full power and authority to do and perform each and every
act and thing  necessary or desirable to be done in and about the  premises,  as
fully to all  intents and  purposes  as he might or could do in person,  thereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact,  or his substitute, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have  hereunto set my hand this 28th day of March,
1997.



                                                          /s/ Donald E. Phillips
                                                          ----------------------
                                                          Donald E. Phillips
<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     The  undersigned,  as a director of Great Lakes REIT, Inc. (the "Company"),
does hereby  constitute and appoint Richard A. May,  Richard L. Rasley and James
Hicks, and each of them, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with
full power of substitution  and  resubstitution,  for him and in his name, place
and stead,  in any and all  capacities,  to sign the Company's  Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 and any and all amendments
thereto,  and to file the same, with exhibits and schedules  thereto,  and other
documents therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,  granting unto
said attorney-in-fact, full power and authority to do and perform each and every
act and thing  necessary or desirable to be done in and about the  premises,  as
fully to all  intents and  purposes  as he might or could do in person,  thereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact,  or his substitute, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of March,
1997.



                                                           /s/ Walter H. Teninga
                                                           ---------------------
                                                           Walter H. Teninga