North Shore Obituary: Roscoe H. Garrett

The following obituary is courtesy of Kelley and Spalding Funeral Home and Crematory.

Roscoe H. Garrett died March 13th after suffering a major stroke while in his home in Lake Forest, Illinois. He had been living independently in an apartment at Lake Forest Place since October 2014 after residing for the previous 56 years in Deerfield. Roscoe was born July 9, 1923 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Logan T. Garrett and Rose Bosch Garrett. He spent his childhood in West Allis and Milwaukee, with an interlude of two years in Portland, Oregon. He graduated from West Allis Central High School in 1939 and began work as an engineering draftsman at Allen Bradley Corporation. While in high school, Roscoe met his wife Jeanne Lucas Garrett and they were married on September 7, 1943, spending the next 67 years together until Jeanne’s passing in August, 2010. Roscoe was a lifelong American patriot who served his country in the US Army during WWII, fighting under Gen. Patton during the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded a bronze star for heroism in battle and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant while in Europe. He was able to begin his college studies while in the Army, attending the University of Maine and completed a B.S. degree in electrical engineering at the University of Wisconsin, graduating cum laude in 1948. Roscoe enjoyed a successful career in engineering and business for the next forty-one years. He was the president and chief operating officer of the Riley Corporation, a publicly listed company for several years and subsequently was the general manager of the same business under a series of parent companies, including US Filter, Ashland Oil and Ametek. He retired from Ametek in 1989. Roscoe and Jeanne were active in the Deerfield community raising their four children and a grandchild while living at 709 Ambleside Drive. They were also active members of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Deerfield. They enjoyed many long-held friendships in Deerfield and were also involved in several charitable organizations. Roscoe was preceded in death by his wife Jeanne, his sister Carol Denig, his daughter Sally, his granddaughter Maria and his son John (“Jack”). He is survived by his sons Scott (Susan) and Paul (Sharon), his grandchildren Brett (Maryam), Elizabeth Mettler (Matt), Alison and Ben. In addition Roscoe had the joy to know his great-grandchildren Abigail and Logan. The family plans to hold a brief ceremony and burial at 11:00AM on Saturday, March 21 at Kelley & Spalding, 1787 Deerfield Rd. Highland Park, IL. They further plan to hold a memorial event for Roscoe over the coming Memorial Day weekend. Details to be announced. For more funeral info or directions please call Kelley & Spalding Funeral Home at (847) 831-4260

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