ELGIN – Robert L. Stark, 95, died on March 19, 2022. He was born June 17, 1926, in Gary, IN, to Lozier and Adele Brown. Bob moved to Sycamore, IL, where he attended high school, only to enlist at 17 with the Marines to fight in WWII. He served as Corporal in Squadron #1 and saw action in the Pacific. He returned to the US, completed his GED and attended NIU for a Bachelor of Education. He was called back into service with the Army as 1st Lieutenant, 15th Infantry Reg., 3rd Div. in Korea. He was awarded the Bronze Star. Bob and his wife Eunice had recently celebrated 71 years of marriage; their love was timeless. Even while in Korea, he wrote numerous love letters to her. After the military, education became Bob’s passion, second only to family. He first taught at Elburn HS, then at DeKalb HS. He became principal at Winnebago Jr./Sr. HS, then served as a superintendent in 2 districts in North Central IL, until moving to Champaign to work on his doctorate at U of I and work in the Urbana school district. Bob moved his family to Elgin in 1976, where he developed and directed the U46 Adult and Alternative Education Program, which still exists today. In 1984 he moved on to other educational pursuits, eventually returning to teaching at St. Edward HS in 1988. He loved being in the classroom, but in 1994 returned to his love of adult education with a coordinator’s position at ECC. When he truly retired in 1997, he had over 40 years experience helping people graduate HS and continue their education. Bob traveled all over the US with Eunice, and managed to visit most of the continental US. He also loved landscaping, gardening, wildlife and the outdoors, and, most recently, listening to audiobooks, watching the History Channel, and attending First Congregational Church, Elgin. Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Eunice Stark; stepmother, Jesse Evans; father, Lozier Brown; and brother, James Stark. He is survived by his sister, Susan Wilder; son, Brian Stark; daughter, Renee (Michael) Buhrow; grandchildren, Taylor Stark, Bailey Stark, Ethan Buhrow, and Linnea Buhrow; 3 sisters-in-law; and 8 nieces and nephews. Visitation will be 4-8pm, Friday, March 25, at Symonds-Madison Funeral Home, 305 Park St., Elgin. Funeral service will be 11am, Saturday, March 26, at First Congregational Church, 256 E. Chicago St., Elgin. Interment to follow at Bluff City Cemetery, 945 Bluff City Blvd. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the U46 Education Foundation. Final arrangements entrusted to Symonds-Madison Funeral Home. For more information, call 847-741-1128 or visit www.symondsmadison.com.
Published by Daily Herald on Mar. 23, 2022.
