Roger Wallace Spiegler

Roger Wallace Spiegler, a longtime Des Plaines resident and businessman, died of Alzheimer’s disease and complications due to the flu on Saturday, April 23, 2016, at his home in Tucson, Arizona . He was 92 years old. Born January 3, 1924 to the late Walter and Mabel Busse Spiegler, Mr. Spiegler was preceded in death by his older sister, Shirley Spiegler Jacobs, and his brother David. Roger graduated from Maine East High School in 1942. He entered the U.S. Army and served in the 42nd Rainbow Division in France and Germany. His Division liberated Munich and the Dachau concentration camp. After the war he attended the University of Illinois and graduated with a degree in Marketing in 1949. He married Elaine Partridge in 1947 who he knew from high school, and they were married for almost sixty-five years until her death in 2012. For forty years he worked as manager of the men’s department in Spiegler’s Department Store, a landmark in downtown Des Plaines for ninety years, and later became co-owner. Mr. Spiegler was a lifelong Elk and served as Exalted Ruler of the Des Plaines Elks from 1959-1960. He was also a member of the Lions Club. In 1972 he was selected to be on the Board of Directors of the Des Plaines National Bank, and in 1974 he was elected as President of the Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Spiegler loved the game of golf and played well into his eighties. He was a loyal Cubs, Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks fan. Mr. Spiegler is survived by his three sons, Allan Jay Spiegler (Frances) of Tucson, Arizona, Glenn Roger Spiegler of West Dundee, Illinois, and Tracy Lee Spiegler (Debbie, deceased) of Oroville, California; four grandchildren, Lisa, Julian (Liz), Kyle, and Susan; two great-grandchildren, La’Nyiah and Serenity; sister-in-law Gail Spiegler; 3 nephews, 3 nieces, and 7 great-nieces and great-nephews. A memorial celebration will be held May 20 at East Lawn Palms Mortuary in Tucson. Memorial donations may be made to the Des Plaines Elks, 495 Lee Street, Des Plaines, Illinois, 60016-4609.