Robert August Monken, 86, of 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 2p-6p. Funeral Service will be Monday, August 19th, 2024 at St. John The Baptist Church (0S233 Church St, Winfield) at 10:30 AM.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/robert-monken-obituary?id=55779384