Robert Wayne Siegfried or more commonly Old Bob at 94 years old passed away peacefully next to his bride of 74 years Thelma Jean at their home at Brookeridge Airpark in Illinois on June 5th 2024.
Old Bob was born in Peoria, Il on July 1, 1929 to Samuel and Sophie Siegfried. Old Bob served in the Marine Corps as a young man, but as he said there after “once a Marine always a Marine”. In his dress blues he swept Thelma Anderson off her feet and in August of 1949 they married in Villa Park, Illinois. Bob attended the University of Illinois prior to being hired by United Airlines in 1952. He was not happy when forced to retire after only 38 years and 38 days with United where he flew the DC-3, DC-4, DC-6, DC-7, DC-8, DC-10, Boeing 727, 737, 747, 767, Convair 340, 440 and the Sud Caravelle. Flying was not just Bob’s vocation it was his passion. When not at work he was at the local airport flying or working on airplanes. He worked and flew out of the Elmhurst airport and for many years kept N2868V, a straight 35 Bonanza at York Township airport. Over the years he owned a J-3, a PT-22, a Staggerwing, several Bonanzas, a Musketeer, and a Schweizer 1-19 glider. He formed a flying club to buy and operate a DC-3 and with good friend Neil Ridenour he helped to resurrect the Chicago Glider Club. He was a partner in Mainline Aviation and Joliet Avionics both located at the Joliet Airport. They were Beechcraft, Schweizer and Hughes dealers and he was the chief flight instructor for the aircraft, glider and helicopter schools. Old Bob was active in the greater aviation community influencing several FAA regulations and becoming a resource in the Beech Bonanza community. He taught all 5 of his and Thelma’s children to fly and all of them soloed gliders on their 14th birthday and airplanes on their 16th. In 1951 Bob and Thelma bought a starter home in Villa Park and lived there for 37 years raising all 5 kids and doing a lot of projects. Bob rarely hired anything done; from maintaining and rebuilding airplanes, fixing cars, home construction and keeping a wooden boat afloat. Between children and flying Bob still found the time to become a sailor. He and the family spent great times on Lake Michigan in their Alberg drawn 38’ Alden Coastwise Cruiser built in the ‘30’s, TP. Bob replaced planks, steamed and replaced frames along with all of the more typical maintenance an old wood boat requires. He also sailed Florida and the Caribbean with his good friend Dr. Wylie Mullen. He and Thelma traveled extensively including most of Europe, India, the Far East and a self-fly safari in Southern Africa. They flew throughout North & South America in small aircraft and in retirement in their V-35B. Old Bob was respected and well known as a very knowledgeable expert on flying and especially Beechcraft products. He shared freely and many pilots benefited greatly.
Bob is survived by Thelma Jean, son Robert Wayne Siegfried II, his wife Jessie, son Richard, his wife Randi, daughter Kathy, son Rand, his wife Andy, daughter Kim, her husband Robert, grandchildren; Robert, Rick, Samantha, Bethany, Sean, Megan, McKinley, Cormac, Stephanie and Bob, great grandchildren; Thomas, Harrison, Jasper, Jayce, Addy, Isabella, Niko, Brendon and Ziggy. Robert was predeceased by his sisters; June and Shirley.
A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.
Anyone that may be interested in making a memorial donation might wish to consider a gift to either of these organizations:
Advocate Charitable Foundation, in support of Home Health and Hospice, 2025 Windsor Drive, Oak Brook, IL 60523 or Click here for online donation or to the Beechcraft Heritage Museum, 570 Old Shelbyville Hwy, Tullahoma, TN 37388 or Click here for online donation.
