Robert Monti

CHAMPAIGN - Robert "Pops" Louis Monti, 79, of White Heath passed away Saturday (June 28, 2025) in Pontiac.

He was born April 26, 1946, at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago, to Henry and Anne (Bittner) Monti.

He attended Willowbrook High School, where he played football and later graduated from Glenbard East after the family moved. He attended the University of Illinois with interests in forestry, physical education and education.

In his early years, he worked as a caddy at Butterfield Golf Course. In high school, he worked for his parents in the evenings at the family restaurant, and during summer breaks, he also worked at McDonald's Machine Shop during the day, expected to work 16-hour days. He worked for his parents at BiGimini Pizza in Lombard from 1960-1968 and later for the new owners. While attending the UI, he worked the lunch counter at Walgreens in Champaign, where he met his future wife. While home during breaks, he was a butcher at Jewel and a wire tester at Belden Wire Company. While attending the UI, he founded Papa Del's Pizza, established Oct. 24, 1970, which coincided with a UI homecoming football game. Since that day, he worked seven days a week, taking very few days off, even as a multiple cancer survivor, until he was hospitalized.

He was preceded in death by his father, Henry Monti (2003); mother, Anne Monti (2011); and twin brother, Richard Monti (2017).

He is survived by his siblings Henry (Joan) Monti of Fairfax Station, Va., Michael Monti of Racine, Wis., Michele Lemons of Apopka, Fla., Mark Monti of Apopka and Dean Monti of Racine. He leaves behind his wife, Elizabeth (Bennett) Monti of White Heath; son, Robert Louis Monti Jr. (Elicia Slate-Monti) of Champaign; daughters, Andrea (Troy) Seten of Seymour, Victoria (Cary) Christensen of Surprise, Ariz., and Meredith Monti of Urbana; as well as his grandchildren, Colin, Wyatt and Zachary Monti, Harper and Dempsey Seten, Greyson, Freyja, Maynard Monti-Martin and Lucia Monti.

He enjoyed hunting and fishing in the Black Hills of South Dakota, family summer vacations, keeping a large garden and orchard, and attending Illini football and Illini basketball games. His favorite holiday was the Fourth of July.

He was an Illini season ticket holder for basketball and football for many decades, an avid fan since 1964, a member of the I-Fund Loyalty Circle and member of the Rebounder's Club. He was active in his son, Robert Jr.'s, Boy Scout troop, helping with the Pinewood Derby, the Klondike annual event, canoeing 50 miles on the Spoon River and hiking at Philmont Scout Ranch. He attended many of his children's sporting events and hosted many end-of-the-year banquets for the teams.

Later in life, he enjoyed international travel with his wife and was able to visit his family's hometown in Caprarola, Italy.

His visitation will be held at Faith United Methodist Church, 1719 S. Prospect Ave., Champaign, on Sunday, July 6, from 2 to 4 p.m. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Monday, July 7, at the church. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery, Champaign.

Condolences may be offered at owensfuneralhomes.com.