Robert H. Jennetten 1945-2016
Bob was born on Jan. 13, 1945, in Belleville, Ill., to the late Peter and Marie (Wienstroer) Jennetten. He married Suzanne M. Clemens on June 8, 1968, in West Point, Iowa. She survives.
He is also survived by four sons, Peter (Jolie) Jennetten and Robert (Megan) Jennetten, both of Peoria, Joseph Jennetten of Nome, Alaska, and Nathaniel (Alexandra) Jennetten of Des Moines, Iowa; one daughter, Amy (Ali) Brown of Oak Park, Ill.; 13 grandchildren, Leo, Gustav, Hal, Abe, Adeline, Amelia, Henry, Jackson and Theodore Jennetten and Bella, Amor, Noble and Immanuel Brown; one brother, John (Judi) Jennetten of Edwardsville, Ill.; and one sister, Donna (Charles) Pruemer of Bruceville, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one grandson, Jude Jennetten.
Faith and family were the cornerstones of Bob's life. He was raised by a widowed mother, living in the rectory at St. Anthony's Church in the tiny southern Illinois town of Lively Grove. He graduated from Mater Dei High School in Breese, Ill., in 1963. He met the love of his life, Suzanne Clemens, at Quincy College and enjoyed the next 47 years with her.
Bob loved nothing more than spending time with his family, particularly his growing number of grandchildren. He faithfully attended their athletic games and school events.
Bob received his law degree from the University of Illinois in 1972 and remained a loyal Illini fan to the end. He was hired by and became a partner in McConnell, Kennedy, McConnell & Morris, and was instrumental in growing the firm into a large, well-respected firm now known as Quinn, Johnston, Henderson, Pretorius & Cerulo.
Bob was a member of the Peoria County Bar Association, where he served as second vice president and vice president and, in 2004, as president. He founded the association's Diversity Committee, where he continued to serve and was known as the "Father of Diversity." He also led the creation of a Diversity Scholarship Program within the Peoria County Bar Foundation. He served for nine years on the Prairie State Legal Services Board of Directors, including two years as president, and served on the board of the Campaign for Legal Services for many years. He was also a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, Defense Research Institute and the Abraham Lincoln Inn of Court as Master Emeritus. He was committed throughout his career to pro bono legal services and continued to provide pro bono services in retirement, receiving an Equal Justice Lifetime Achievement Award from Prairie State Legal Services in 2015. He was honored as a Leading Lawyer and SuperLawyer. He was respected for his skilled advocacy, boundless compassion, deep generosity and unfailing honesty.
Bob was an active member of the Catholic and ecumenical faith communities. Bob was a long time member of St. Mark Catholic Church, where he served on numerous boards and committees. He was a member of St. Ann Catholic Church. He was active in Cursillo, making Cursillo 71 and serving in various capacities, including rector. Bob also served on the Catholic School Board.
Services have been held.
Memorials may be made to the Peoria County Bar Association Foundation, Diversity Scholarship Program, 110 SW Jefferson, Suite 520, Peoria, Ill., 61602; or Prairie State Legal Services, Administrative Offices, 303 N. Main St., Suite 600, Rockford, Ill., 61101.