Robert 'Bob' Frederick Jagitsch's Obituary
Robert Frederick (Bob) Jagitsch Jr., Lt. Colonel, USAF (Ret.) of Springdale, AR, formerly of Harrison and Little Rock, passed away on September 22, 2012 at the age of 89. Bob Jagitsch was born November 20, 1922 in Springfield, Illinois to Robert Frederick Jagitsch Sr. and Dorothy Mae (Jones) Jagitsch. Bob graduated from Peoria Woodruff High School in 1940 and was called to active duty from Springfield Jr. College in 1943. After combat training he was sent to Europe with the 386th Bomb Group, 9th Air Force. Bob married Winifred Amelia Crookston on November 7, 1948 in Springfield.
Bob flew 30 missions with the 555th Squadron of the 386th Bomb Group. He returned to the states on VJ Day, after receiving six citations. After the war, Bob attended Purdue University. In 1948 he was recalled to active duty where he graduated from the Air Force’s Air Weather Technical School. Assigned to the 33rd Fighter Wing at Otis Air Force Base as a Pilot Weather Officer, he then went to the Korean conflict with the 20th Weather Squadron in Japan. He flew 29 missions with the 3rd Bomb Wing in the Douglas A-26 Invader, providing weather briefings to the wing and receiving two citations. Later, Bob returned to Japan and ran a meteorological support station at Itazuke. In 1953, he was assigned to the Air Weather Service at Andrews AFB in Washington, DC. While there he graduated with a degree in Military Science from the University of Maryland. After his assignment in Washington, Bob piloted Boeing B-50s out of Guam with the 54th Weather Recon Squadron where he penetrated 10 major typhoons. He secured employment with Bendix Aerospace after resigning the USAF, where he managed several developments including an emergency communication system which would issue the President’s strike order to every military unit in the event of war. Bob rejoined the AF as a reserve officer where he commanded the 63rd Troop Carrier Squadron, flying C-110s, preparing for Cuba. Later, he joined the Michigan Air National Guard and flew B-57s out of Battle Creek. In 1966, Bob ran for city council of Ann Arbor, defeating the incumbent and serving one term. He then entered private enterprise as owner of several aviation businesses through 1995, and was also involved in the securities and financial markets until 2011.
A member of the Springdale Seventh Day Adventist Church, Bob was a devout Christian, the spiritual leader of his family, and a firm believer in the second coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ. He honored God.
Bob was preceded in death by his brother Richard Nathan Jagitsch, and sister Elizabeth Virginia Call.
He is survived by his loving wife Win, married 63 years; brother John Jagitsch of Springfield, IL; daughters Janet and Diana of Springdale/Fayetteville, AR; sons Robert III of Austin, TX, and William of North Little Rock, AR; grandchildren Joe, Jenny, Rob, Dan, and Jessica; and two great grandchildren.
Lt. Colonel Jagitsch will be interred at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, IL. His family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Wounded Warriors Project.
“Death, be not proud…One short sleep past, we wake eternally.” --John Donne
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