Robert "Joe" Joseph Maher

Robert Joseph “Joe” Maher, of Arlington Heights, Illinois, passed away peacefully on September 28, 2025, at the age of 81. Joe was born March 19, 1944 in Kewanee, Illinois to Robert M. and Mary E. Maher (nee Bogner). He was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart Sue Pepper on August 19, 1967. They were married 58 years.

Cherished father of Kendra Maher, Andrew (Joy) Maher and Martin (Kelly) Maher. Proud grandfather of Ethan Lindborg, Joshua & Kaitlyn Maher, Paige & Reese Maher, and Jenna, Jordan and Jayden Blank. Dear brother of Betty (and late Kenneth) McGarvey, Mary (Bob) Harris and Monica Maher. Brother-in-Law Barry (Sally) Pepper.

Joe attended Valley Grade School from grades 1-8, and Wyoming Community High School where he participated in football, basketball, track, agriculture club, and student council. Raised on a farm, he showed Poland China pigs and cattle and worked the farm planting and picking not only on the family farm but for other farmers in the area. He earned a Bachelor of Science of Education from Western Illinois and a Masters Degree in Administration from Northern Illinois.

Joe began his career as a Physical Education teacher at Dryden Elementary in 1966, and continued his career at Dunton School, and Olive Mary-Stitt until his retirement in June of 1999 with 35 years of service.

Joe was very involved in the Arlington Heights community, one of the founding fathers of the AHYBA & Jr. Mustang youth basketball programs. Joe coached both Andy and Marty in basketball over the years. Joe was a member of Suburban Basketball Officials (SBO) and U.M.P.S. In 1979 & 1984 during the MLB umpire strikes, plus many Crosstown Classics between the Cubs vs. White Soxs, Joe umpired at Wrigley Field. This led to two motion picture opportunities in “A League of Their Own” and “The Babe”.

In retirement Joe loved boating, grandchildren, and his time in Williams Bay, Wi. He and Sue considered Wisconsin God’s country.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert M. and Mary E. Maher; in-laws, Frank and Doris Pepper; grandson, Martin “Evan” Lindborg; brother-in-law, Ken McGarvey; and sister-in-law, Sharon Wagner.

A visitation will be held Friday, October 3, 2025, from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004. An additional visitation will be held Saturday, October 4, 2025, at 9:00 AM at St. James Catholic Church, 831 N Arlington Heights Rd, Arlington Heights, IL 60004. The funeral mass will start at 10:00 AM. Inurnment will be private at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Joe’s honor can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (Link: https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?sc_icid=header-btn-donate-now)

or

Shriners Children's (Link: https://donate.shrinerschildrens.org/campaign/618584/donate?c_src=google&c_src2=sept-2025-brand&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=157828074&gbraid=0AAAAADy9t15TR2c-QuUu0LlF-MamtFyin&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIx5TvzPL-jwMV9JHuAR3vHy_REAAYASAAEgLFe_D_BwE)