ROBERT JAEGER

Robert L. Jaeger, age “83”, of Elburn, passed away and joined The Good Lord and the glorious saints of light, surrounded by the love and prayers of his family in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 31, 2022.

He was born on August 2, 1939, in Maribel, WI, to loving parents, Alfred and Renata Jaeger.

Bob grew up in Manitowoc, WI , although he often commented that he was “born in the basement but never brought up.” After attending local schools, he graduated from Manitowoc High School with the class of 1959. Bob answered the call of his country and enlisted in the United States Army. He served faithfully and honorably before his discharge and return to civilian life.

Bob was introduced to Shirley Kosirog. A busy working waitress at a local bowling alley through a friend. It didn’t take much time, maybe a little longer than it took to set up ten pins, and Bob was hooked. Shortly thereafter a friendship bloomed into love. They were united in marriage May 22, 1965, in Chicago. They began their new life together in Norridge, IL for a time before settling in Hoffman Estates a year later, becoming a part of the “Hoffman Hood”, where they found not only a home for the family, but a lifelong family of friends as well. It wasn’t until 1987 that they moved to Elburn and continued to make memories with family and friends alike.

Bob worked at Kresge, a department store in Chicago, as a manager for a time, before moving to Cutler-Hammer. He next found work at Valve and Primer before helping to establish their own company Advanced Micro Lites alongside his wife and daughter, Dawn. While his wife Shirley was president, Bob supported her as vice president, and the grandkids “ran the office”. Bob supported Shirley in critical tasks that included daily trips to the parks with the grandkids, Alice’s Place for ice cream and nap time.    

Bob loved family vacations in Aruba, and in the early years, summers meant trips to the Jellystone Campgrounds. He was the original Mr. Fixit, building fences, garages, pools and more (along with the cheap labor he found in his four children), all of which were built with patience, love and an incredible eye for detail. Sundays found him at church, nurturing his faith and the faith of his family. His yard was a source of joy; picking up sticks, mulching and mowing with a cigar at the ready. You could feel the sense of accomplishment when you looked into his eyes, and a tranquility that everything was going to be okay. He had a friendly smile no matter what challenge was placed in front of him, never allowing anything to weigh him down. Troubles when they came, rolled off his back with a shrug and a determination to rise to every challenge. One of his sayings echoes down the generations, “It ‘tis what it ‘tis”. Bob was man who treasured his family above all, and they in turn will treasure his legacy for generations.

He now leaves four children: Dan (Angela) Jaeger, Dawn (Michael) Kuefler, Donna (Ed) Schmidt and Bobby (Corinne) Jaeger; nine grandchildren: Logan Easton, Justin Jaeger, Danny Jaeger, Josh Kuefler, Paige Kuefler, Jed Kuefler, Jakob Schmidt, Julia Jaeger and Lizzie Jaeger;, many nieces, nephews and a family of friends. 

He is now reunited with his parents, Alfred and Renata Jaeger, his wife Shirley Jaeger, a granddaughter, Jessica Jaeger; four siblings: Herman “Butch” Jaeger, Norma Horning, Irma Ronsman, Paul Jaeger

Visitation will be Wednesday, August 3, 2022, from 2-3 p.m., with a funeral service to follow, at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL 60119. Interment will follow at Blackberry Twp. Cemetery, Elburn.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Grace Lutheran Church, 5N600 Hansen Rd., St. Charles, IL 60175. Memories and tributes may be left on the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com.