Frank J. Joerger

Staff
Posted 7/2/17

MENDOTA - Frank James Joerger, 86, of Mendota, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on July 1, 2017 at OSF St.Anthony Hospital in Rockford.

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Frank J. Joerger

Posted

MENDOTA - Frank James Joerger, 86, of Mendota, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on July 1, 2017 at OSF St.Anthony Hospital in Rockford.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 6 at Holy Cross Church, Mendota with Father Peter Pilon officiating. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Mendota with military rites by Mendota VFW Post 4079. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 5 at Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota with a rosary at 3:15 p.m.

Frank was born at home in Mendota during a blizzard on March 15, 1931 to Lawrence and Julia (Jones) Joerger. He married Jean Koehler on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, 1953 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Sublette, officiated by Father Lehman.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years; nine children, Mark Joerger of Mendota, William (Pam) Joerger of Romeoville, Jan (Bruce) Full of Mendota, Linda (Michael) Minnick of Mendota, Diana (Steve) Tuftie of Ottawa, Jack (Sharon) Joerger of Peru, Julie (Scott) Zinke of Mendota, Teresa (Tom) Leffelman of Mendota and Brad (Cheree) Joerger of Palatine; 23 grandchildren, Autumn and Kyler Joerger, Ciara (Dalton) Little, Stephenie Campanile, Matt (Cortney), Janette and Andrew Joerger, Abbey Chaon, Alison Wasmer, Adam Minnick and Laura (Steve) McNally, Susan Tuftie, Joseph and Katie Joerger, Brock (Liz), Logan, Cody and Garet Zinke, Spencer and Tara Leffelman and Javen, Nora and Leo Joerger; six great-grandchildren, Grace, Cam, Luke, Elle, Greyson and Jaxon; two sisters, Sr. Dominic and Sr. Concepta; and three brothers, Paul, Raymond (Kathy) and Bill (Gloria).

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Fr. Leo Joerger and Robert Joerger; one sister, Dorothy Fane; two daughters-in-law, Vicki Joerger and Shelly Joerger; and two grandchildren, Sarah Joerger and Sean Minnick.

Frank served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Japan from 1954-1956 working as a quartermaster. After discharge, he worked at Mendota Farm Supply for 23 years and represented his coworkers as a union steward. He was a lifelong farmer working with his brother, Raymond, as partners in Joerger Brothers Farms.

Frank was a 1949 graduate of Mendota High School, a 50-year member of the Knights of Columbus, past member of the Mendota Moose Lodge and Optimist Club and a lifelong member of Holy Cross Church. He was a diehard Notre Dame fan and top salesman of Holy Cross Daily Dollars and Arlington sausage sales for many years.

Memorials in Frank’s name may be directed to the family for a memorial to be established at a later date.