Robert G. Sjostrom, a resident of Oak Park for nearly 30 years and a retired social worker at the Edward A. Hines Jr. V.A. Hospital, died Monday at Loyola University Hospital after a battle with cancer.
One of six children of Robert and Edna Sjostrom, Bob grew up in the Beverly area on Chicago’s Southwest Side. He graduated from Morgan Park High School in Chicago and from the University of Illinois in Urbana, and obtained a masters degree in social work from George Williams College.
In the 1970s, he moved to Oak Park, attracted, as were some of his brothers and his sister, by the good schools and vibrant community life.
He worked for the V.A. for more than 30 years, serving directly the needs of patients and also monitoring nursing homes where V.A. patients were cared for.
After his retirement from the V.A., he volunteered at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Chicago, where he helped plan and conduct activities for patients, including summer camps.
For many years, he and his dear friend Jeannie Friedell hosted a monthly meeting at their home to make lunches for homeless persons in PADS shelters in the near western suburbs.
Bob Sjostrom is survived by his mother, Edna Sjostrom, a resident of the Oak Park Arms retirement community; his brothers, Joe (Jane Mcatee), Jerry (Nancy), and Dan (Colleen) of Oak Park; his brother Bill (Laurie) of Cork, Ireland; his sister, Martha (David Ott), of Chicago; his daughter, Sarah, and granddaughter, Maria Isabella, of Bedford, Mass.; and his dear friend, Jeannie Friedell, of Oak Park, and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 25, at the Drechsler Brown & Williams Funeral Home, 203 S. Marion St., Oak Park. Visitation with the family will be held from 1 to 3 p.m., and the memorial service at 3 p.m.
It was Bob’s wish that in lieu of flowers donations be sent to Shriners Childrens Hospital, 2211 N. Oak Park Ave., Chicago, IL 60635. A memorial website can be found here.