Wauconda engineer who was ‘instrumental’ in village growth dies at 60
Robert J. Devery, a longtime municipal engineer, is being remembered as a loving husband, tireless worker, and a key contributor to the growth of Wauconda.
Devery died Wednesday at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, after a bout with kidney cancer. He was 60.
“He just glowed,” said Penne Devery, his wife of 35 years. “He had a full, exciting life. I’m so grateful to have shared it with him.”
Born in Chicago, Devery grew up in Glen Ellyn before studying engineering at Marquette University. His wife said that was where he developed the passion he threw behind Devery Engineering Inc., his consulting firm for 31 years.
Devery and his wife settled in Mundelein, and he had served as Wauconda’s village engineer for more than 14 years. Wauconda officials said Devery was the driving force behind many of the village’s capital infrastructure projects, including multiple road improvements, an expansion of the wastewater treatment plant and finding ways to bring Lake Michigan water to the village.
“Bob knew our village like the back of his hand, and he was a great friend,” said Mayor Mark Knigge. “He was instrumental in critical projects to improve Wauconda. He is deeply missed.”
Knigge said a special village board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday to name Director of Operations David Lawry the interim village engineer.
“He looked out for us,” Village Administrator David Geary said of Devery. “He leaves a void that will be hard to replace, both professionally and as a friend.”
In addition to Devery’s devotion to engineering clients, Penne Devery recalled her husband’s wry sense of humor and their shared love of traveling. An advocate for animal rescue organizations, he was the proud owner of several miniature schnauzers.
His ashes will be spread at a cemetery in Yuba, Wis., as well as in Les Andelys, France, a village outside Paris on the Seine River where Devery and his wife shared their first river cruise.
“He loved to live and laugh. He meant so much to so many people,” Penne said.
Devery is survived by his wife, two sisters, a brother, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration is scheduled for Saturday, May 12 at Kisselburg-Wauconda Funeral Home, 235 N. Main St., in Wauconda, from 1 p.m. until the memorial service at 2 p.m. A reception will follow from 3 to 6 p.m. at The Golf Farm, 2100 Route 12, the golf course where Devery learned the game.
In lieu of flowers or cards, his family asks that donations be made to The American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org, or to the Save-A-Pet Adoption Center of Grayslake at www.saveapetil.org.