Robert J. Dittrich

Robert J. Dittrich was born March 9, 1925, in Elgin, the youngest of three children of Herbert P. and Mary (Zenk) Dittrich. His birth was not without excitement as his mother arrived at the hospital in Elgin by way of sled due to a late winter blizzard. Bob died at his home in Kankakee on Sunday (April 20, 2008).Raised on a farm near the village of Huntley, Bob attended schools in Crystal Lake and Woodstock until the untimely death of his father in 1941. Following the death of his father, he left school to assist his mother and siblings on the family farm until it was sold.With the nation at war, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on Sept. 30, 1943. He served with honor in the 4th Marine Division which was instrumental in the defeat of the Japanese on the islands of Saipan and Iwo Jima. He participated in action against the enemy at Roi-Namur, Marshall Islands in February of 1944 and at Saipan, Marianna Islands in June and July of 1944. Upon his honorable discharge from the Marine Corps in November of 1945, he returned to his home area and attended business school in Rockford before joining Midwest Bottle Cap Company as a service representative in Belvidere.He married the former Margaret McKern on May 15, 1948, in Belvidere, and together over the next 40 years they operated successful restaurants, including the Wedgewood Drive-In in Belvidere, Club Irwin in Irwin, and Jerome's near Kankakee.Bob was a member of the 4th Degree of the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars; and was an active member of St. Patrick's Parish in Kankakee, where he served as an usher. He was also a member of the Irwin Lions Club. He was an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs and for many years organized an annual trip to Wrigley Field for his special group called "I.C.A.S." (Irwin Cub Athletic Society).He was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Mary Dittrich; sister, Angeline McDonald; brothers-in-law, Kenneth McDonald, Robert McKern, Richard McKern, and Carter Hadley; and sister-in-law, Betty McKern.He is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Margaret, of Kankakee; four children, John (Lois) Dittrich of Forth Worth, Texas, Jim Dittrich (Chris Wells) of Woodridge, Janet (Myron) Bertram of Bourbonnais, and Jerry (Lisa) Dittrich of Lincoln, N.H.; grandchildren, Rob (Mary Beth McGregor) Dittrich of Chicago, Jennifer Dittrich and James Dittrich, both of Carol Stream, Matt (Erika) Keen of Plainfield, Andy Dittrich of Woodridge, Casey (Danielle) Bertram, Kellie (Ryan) Torrenga, and Kayla (Michael Pacton) Bertram, all of Bourbonnais; and one great-grandchild. Also surviving is brother, Howard (Marjorie) Dittrich of Lakeland, Fla.; sisters-in-law, Mildred (McKern) Hadley of Fort Walton Beach, Fla. and Norma McKern of Oak Creek, Calif; as well as 19 nieces and nephews.Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral Home, west Kankakee, with a Mass of Solemn Burial at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Kankakee, at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Burial will follow the Mass at St. James Cemetery, Irwin. In lieu of flowers, the family requests Mass intentions or a donation to a charity of the donor's choice.

Robert J. Dittrich

March 9, 1925 - April 20, 2008