Robert Charles Vanderjack
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Robert Charles "Bob" Vanderjack, age 75, of Pinckneyville, Ill., passed away on Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 2:15 p.m. in St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital, Mt. Vernon, Ill.
Bob was born on Feb. 6, 1936 in Chicago, Ill., a son to Cornelius and Mary (Kowalski) Vanderjack. On October 6, 1979, he married Darlene Dehne in the Zion Lutheran Church, Pinckneyville, Ill. and she survives. During his early years, Bob's jobs included a childhood newspaper route, a laboratory technician, a Chicago firefighter; he proudly served in the United States Army for two years and had a career as an Environmental Biologist for the Army Corp of Engineers. Bob's passion for knowledge led him to earn a Master's degree in zoology and, as the first member of his family to earn a college degree, serve as a role model and inspiration to his nieces, nephews and three daughters. After retiring from his career as an Environmental Biologist, he continued to enjoy intellectual pursuits such as crossword puzzles and reading. He had a genuine love of and respect for nature. Bob was a loving husband and father and will be dearly missed by his family and friends.
Bob is survived by his wife; three daughters, Staci Vanderjack (Fiancée, Kevin Decker) of Chicago, Ill., Kathy Vanderjack of Pinckneyville, Ill. and Becky Vanderjack of Pinckneyville, Ill.; one brother, Bud (Terri) Vanderjack of Downers Grove, Ill.; two sisters, Mary Ann (Tom) Rutkiewicz of Bridgeview, Ill. and Jeanie (Jay) Zurawski of New Lenox, Ill.; numerous nieces; nephews; great-nieces and great-nephews and many dear friends.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services were held at St. Bruno Catholic Church, Pinckneyville, Ill. on Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. with Father Brian Barker officiating. Interment was in Sunset Memorial Park, Du Quoin, Ill.
Friends called at Pyatt Funeral Home, Pinckneyville, Ill. on Monday from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and on Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. The rosary was recited Tuesday at 9:00 a.m.
Memorials may be made to St. Bruno Catholic Church.
For more information or to sign an online guest register, please visit www.pyattfuneralhome.com