Robert H. Mather

1919 - 2014

Robert Henry Mather Born: Jan. 26, 1919; New Egypt, NJ Died: Feb. 25, 2014; Woodstock, IL Robert Henry Mather, 95, of Woodstock, died Tuesday, February 26, 2014 at Centegra Memorial Medical Center in Woodstock. He was born January 20, 1919, to Henry (Hal) and Gertrude Louise (Brehm) Mather in New Egypt, New Jersey. He married Lorraine (Penny) Pindras on May 1, 1943, in Chicago. Both he and his wife, Penny graduated from what is now Illinois Institute of Technology. He graduated as a mechanical engineer working briefly in the steel mills and as an efficiency expert in newspaper printing before coming to Woodstock to work in the family printing business, Hal Mather & Sons. He was active at the Congregational-Universalist Church in Woodstock. He served as moderator and other positions on the church boards. He loved playing chess, going to the ballet and opera, playing bridge and star gazing. Survivors include a son, James (Gay) Mather of Woodstock; a daughter Carol (Steve) Qualkinbush of Evanston; five grandchildren, Autumn (Michael Cardinale) Mather, Allegra (Nicholas Reading) Mather, Ailisa (Elliot) Burlingham, Mavis Mather, and Robert (Allison) Qualkinbush. He was Super-grandpa to Alani Rose, Payton Ann, Norah Lorraine, and Jordan Lynn. He is survived by his brother Charles Mather and his sister-in-law Leonor Mather. He was preceded in death by his wife Lorraine (Penny) of 60 years, his parents, his sister and brother-in-law Edna and Roy Totten, his sister-in-law Gloria Mather, and his brother George Mather. A memorial service is being planned for later in March. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorials in Robert 's memory to: Land Conservancy of McHenry County 4622 Dean St. Woodstock, IL 60098; or the Woodstock Opera House 121 E. Van Buren St. Woodstock, IL 60098. For information, call Schneider, Leucht, Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home in Woodstock at (815) 338-1710, or visit www.slmcfh.com.