West Chicago Voice - About Us : The voice of West Chicago, Illinois - digital local news - for locals by locals .

Robert August Monken Obituary – Obituario Roberto August Monken

West Chicago Voice - The voice of West Chicago, Illinois - digital local news - for locals by locals . Free obituary notices , the local hometown Newspaper- the West Chicago Voice
Sharing is Caring, WeGo!

Robert August Monken, 86, or Wheaton, IL, passed away on Sunday, August 4th, 2024. Bob was born in Mascoutah, IL and attended Cathedral High School in Belleville, IL. He graduated from Southern Illinois University in 1958 and started teaching and coaching at St. Phillip High School in Battle Creek, MI. It was there that he met his wife of 61 years, Jo Ellen. After finishing his Masters Degree at Southern Illinois, they were married on August 18th, 1962 and moved to Addison, IL. A year later their family began to  grow with the birth of Tony in 1963, followed by Todd in 1966, and Ted in 1969. In 1967, they moved the family to Wheaton and in 1976 Bob built the family home there.

Professionally, Bob was a PE, Drivers Ed, and Health Department Head and was very proud of the department they built at Lake Park High School. Administrators and teachers from all over the country often would visit to learn about their programs and how they involved The Cooper Institute.

Bob was also Head Football Coach at Lake Park High School for 30 years. The football field was dedicated to him last fall and will forever be known as Bob Monken Field. His smile that evening lit up the stadium as family, friends, and colleagues joined in the celebration. Bob was also inducted into the Illinois High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 1990. After retiring from Lake Park in 1994, he continued to coach with stops at Naperville Central, Wheaton Warrenville South, Vernon Hills, St. Charles East, Metea Valley, and West Chicago.

Retirement wasn’t all coaching, though. Bob and Jo loved traveling all over the world and had their happy place in Siesta Key, FL where they spent winters as snowbirds. They also loved to spoil their grandchildren with gifts from all their travels or sometimes with something cool or an old school toy from his woodshop. Bob even did a road trip to California with his grandson. Bob’s other love in retirement was golf and his retired football coaches golf league every Thursday.

Bob was a loving son, brother, husband, dad, uncle and papa. He was preceded in death by his parents Omer and Louise, his wife Jo Ellen, and his brothers Jim, Mike, and Bill. Bob is survived by his sons Tony (Jean), Todd (Terri), and Ted (Trina), grandchildren Anthony, Travis, Thomas, Maddie, and Kevin, and his brother Glenn and sister Julie (Arthur).

Family will receive friends at the Hultgren Funeral Home (304 N Main Street, Wheaton) on Sunday August 18th, 2024 from 2-6. Funeral Service will be Monday, August 19th, 2024 at St. John The Baptist Church (0S233 Church St, Winfield) at 10:30 AM.


Robert August Monken, de 86 años, de Wheaton, IL, falleció el domingo 4 de agosto de 2024. Bob nació en Mascoutah, IL y asistió a Cathedral High School en Belleville, IL. Se graduó de la Southern Illinois University en 1958 y comenzó a enseñar y entrenar en St. Phillip High School en Battle Creek, MI. Fue allí donde conoció a su esposa de 61 años, Jo Ellen. Después de terminar su maestría en Southern Illinois, se casaron el 18 de agosto de 1962 y se mudaron a Addison, IL. Un año después, su familia comenzó a crecer con el nacimiento de Tony en 1963, seguido de Todd en 1966 y Ted en 1969. En 1967, trasladaron a la familia a Wheaton y en 1976 Bob construyó la casa familiar allí.

Profesionalmente, Bob era jefe del departamento de educación física, educación vial y salud y estaba muy orgulloso del departamento que construyeron en Lake Park High School. Administradores y profesores de todo el país solían visitar el estadio para conocer sus programas y cómo involucraban al Instituto Cooper.

Bob también fue entrenador principal de fútbol en Lake Park High School durante 30 años. El campo de fútbol se le dedicó el otoño pasado y siempre será conocido como Bob Monken Field. Su sonrisa esa noche iluminó el estadio mientras familiares, amigos y colegas se unían a la celebración. Bob también fue incluido en el Salón de la Fama de Entrenadores de Fútbol de Escuelas Secundarias de Illinois en 1990. Después de retirarse de Lake Park en 1994, continuó entrenando en Naperville Central, Wheaton Warrenville South, Vernon Hills, St. Charles East, Metea Valley y West Chicago.

Sin embargo, la jubilación no fue solo entrenamiento. A Bob y Jo les encantaba viajar por todo el mundo y tenían su lugar feliz en Siesta Key, Florida, donde pasaban los inviernos como pájaros de nieve. También les encantaba mimar a sus nietos con regalos de todos sus viajes o, a veces, con algo genial o un juguete antiguo de su taller de carpintería. Bob incluso hizo un viaje por carretera a California con su nieto. El otro amor de Bob en su retiro fue el golf y su liga de golf de entrenadores de fútbol retirados todos los jueves.

Bob era un hijo, hermano, esposo, padre, tío y papá cariñoso. Le precedieron en la muerte sus padres Omer y Louise, su esposa Jo Ellen y sus hermanos Jim, Mike y Bill. A Bob le sobreviven sus hijos Tony (Jean), Todd (Terri) y Ted (Trina), sus nietos Anthony, Travis, Thomas, Maddie y Kevin, y su hermano Glenn y su hermana Julie (Arthur).

La familia recibirá a amigos en la funeraria Hultgren (304 N Main Street, Wheaton) el domingo 18 de agosto de 2024 de 14 a 18 h. El servicio fúnebre será el lunes 19 de agosto de 2024 en la iglesia St. John The Baptist (0S233 Church St, Winfield) a las 10:30 a. m.