SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Roger Frederick Nusbaum, 90, of Riverton, died peacefully July 5, 2009, in Springfield, Ill.
He was born Feb. 6, 1919, in Warsaw, to Ralph O. Nusbaum, long time Warsaw Times-Union newspaper editor and Winona Lake Postmistress, Ruby G. Nusbaum. On Nov. 1, 1941, in the Canal Zone, he married Marjorie Eileen Myers, with whom he had five children. She died in 1969. His wife Ellen H. Nusbaum, survives.
He served as deputy chief highway engineer and was a principal participant in the design and construction of the Chicago Expressway System. In the 1960s, he was in charge of coordinating the activities of the county, city and state in the construction of Chicago's massive, one and one-half billion dollar expressway system covering 177 miles. Later he served in Springfield as deputy director of highways for the Illinois Department of Transportation. During this time he lived in Glen Ellyn, Ill.
He was an alumnus of Purdue University, West Lafayette. He first worked as a civil engineer for the government in the Panama Canal Zone. During World War II, he remained in Panama where he served in a similar capacity with the U.S. Air Force.
Surviving are four daughters: Sue N. (and spouse Delbert) Haschemeyer and Donna L. Aschenbrenner, both of Athens, Ill.; Randa J. (and spouse Gary) Copeland of Tucson, Ariz.; and Peggy E. Nusbaum, Sparta, Mo; a son, Kurt D. (and spouse Debbie) Nusbaum, of Woodridge; Ill.; 21 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, John Christian Nusbaum; and a sister, Frances E. Nusbaum Peacock.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Staab Funeral Home, 1109 S. 5th St., Springfield, Ill., with the Rev. Gloria Davis officiating. Burial will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield.
Calling is from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday at the funeral home.
